posted 12-15-2000 02:55 PM            

My delight quickly turned to disappointment, then pure amusement, then a little sadness. My first impression was that the spoon just didn't look or feel quite right; it felt awkward, and looked strange. Next I noticed the telltale signs of an old repair, just behind the maker's mark; OK, so it had been broken and repaired. Then I figured out what was wrong; the handle was upside-down! The spoon had a nice high midrib on the back, which was originally on the front. The old block intials on what was the back were now on the front! No wonder it felt funny!

So how did this happen? Was it a numbskull repair by someone who didn't know what they were doing? Strangely, I don't think so.

Throughout the mid 18th century, the Hanoverian style of spoon reigned supreme, with an upturned tip, a ridge or tip down the front, and monograms on the reverse. Right around the Revolution the downturned-end spoon took over in popularity, and intials and decoration moved to the front. I think that some enterprising early American, rather than having a new spoon fashioned in the new style, simply had the handle on his old spoon reversed. This makes for an interesting antique, but of dubious value to the collector. I didn't ask the price, but I'm fairly certain it would have been for a pristine Bancker spoon. In my experience, dealers often turn a blind eye to damage, (especially if they didn't notice it before), and hate to have it pointed out by a customer. Anyway, I wasn't in the mood for an argument, so I let it lay.

What do you think? Has anyone seen other pieces like this before? I know it is a first for me, and certainly worthy of a Silver Story!