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Medallion spoon by unknown maker

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Author	Topic: Medallion spoon by unknown maker
Marc Posts: 414 Registered: Jun 2002	posted 06-11-2008 12:15 AM [01-2661] Hi all.. I have found a medallion pattern that is not listed in Dr. Soeffing's book and was wondering who could have made it? The spoon is lightly hand hammered, is 6.25" long, and is only marked "Sterling" on the back of the handle. Thanks in advance for your help. Marc IP: Logged
IJP Posts: 326 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 06-11-2008 03:42 PM Perhaps it is Mexican? Something about the workmanship and design suggests that to me, maybe early- to mid-twentieth century? The lettering style also seems reminiscent of many Mexican STERLING marks. But I could be waaay off. IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 06-11-2008 09:29 PM My first guess was that this is American, made a while after the medallion craze died down. Perhaps circa 1910-20. It looks like middling quality. Is the medallion cast & applied? IP: Logged
Marc Posts: 414 Registered: Jun 2002	posted 06-11-2008 11:20 PM Hi Paul, Yes, the medallion is cast (or stamped) and applied. I modified the second photo (in first posting) to display the side view of the medallion. The spoon has a good look and good feel. I kind of thought that they would like it enough to put their mark on it. Marc IP: Logged
doc Posts: 728 Registered: Jul 2003	posted 06-13-2008 11:16 AM I had the same initial reaction as IJP; the sterling mark is very similar to Mexican pieces. Plus, there's just something about the face on the medallion that is not quite classic Greco-Roman. IP: Logged
Marc Posts: 414 Registered: Jun 2002	posted 06-13-2008 01:02 PM What's up Doc! (Sorry) heh heh. Just look at that nose... how can that not be of Mediterranean origin?.. BTW this piece came from a family in Ohio, and whose background is way north east of Italy (Moscow)..not Idaho. I believe that "sterling" stamps like this are also used by a host of small silversmiths, who sold through retail businesses on all 3 sides of the border. Topic: Seeking to verify "Sayre & Richards" hallmark" Mark struck hard or soft or off center etc. Some retailers do not want a jobbers makers mark on silver sold in their upscale (midscale) establishments. There is a topic on this subject (925 /1000 marked hand hammered silver without makers marks), but I can't find it. Could this spoon be one of those? Always appreciate all of your help. Marc IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 06-13-2008 02:30 PM Yes, the quality of the cast medallion initially reminded me of the (925)(1000) maker (which I think is the Merrill shops). Notice the rather crudely rendered the decoration atop the helmet. But I do not think this is the 925 1000 shop. Those pieces at least all seemed to be handwrought. This seems more like a machine-made spoon with just some hammer marks on it. Actually an auction with the same medallion just ended on eBay, but it was a shell-bowl sugar spoon. IP: Logged
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 Registered: May 99	posted 06-13-2008 09:56 PM All very interesting; after reading all your responses, it suddenly looked very 1920s--art deco neo-classical, which would explain the "colonial" form of the spoon itself. There was also something of a Victorian revival in the 1930s, and this could reflect that romantic impulse. IP: Logged

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