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Child's Fork & Spoon- Maker? Plate?

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Author	Topic: Child's Fork & Spoon- Maker? Plate?
nautilusjv Posts: 253 Registered: Nov 2008	posted 12-09-2011 04:29 AM I recently found this adorable child's set of a fork and spoon for my goddaughter (who is 2 1/2) to use at Christmas Eve dinner which I am hosting. The motif of the spoon is a rabbit below which in a shield cartouche is the head of a genie. I tried to find a story/fable that fits these characters. A book on American folktales noted a story called "The Wise Rabbit and the Forest Sprite", but it does not detail the elements of the tale. The seller mentioned that it could relate to a Native American fable about 2 brothers one a rabbit, the other a genie. Anyway the motif does not seem to easily fit into a well-known, popular story. The marks too are also a mystery. On each piece, there is an arrow like mark next to a lantern shaped mark with an oval inset and something in the oval that I cannot make out even with a loop. The marks are very deep. Any thoughts appreciated. Also, I do not know if these pieces are sterling or plate. I did the "bend" test and they do have some spring. Happy Holidays! Kelly IP: Logged
dragonflywink Posts: 993 Registered: Dec 2002	posted 12-09-2011 08:31 AM Very sweet set, Kelly! The pic isn't clear enough on my monitor to see anything other than the Dutch small article sword (so they're silver of at least .833 fineness), it's been used in some form from 1814 to present. The mark was also used in Belgium from 1831-68, and though I doubt this set dates that early, it might have been made for the Belgian market; look into a Belgian fairy tale called, "The Belgian Bunny", which has a genii/doctor. ~Cheryl [This message has been edited by dragonflywink (edited 12-09-2011).] IP: Logged
nautilusjv Posts: 253 Registered: Nov 2008	posted 12-13-2011 06:23 AM Thank you Cheryl!!! You have solved the mystery. I didn't even think the pieces were continental. I found "The Belgian Bunny" on Google books and will read it when I get a chance. I wish I could find the book too. Happy Holidays! Kelly IP: Logged
dragonflywink Posts: 993 Registered: Dec 2002	posted 12-13-2011 10:31 AM Heh, not one of my favorite fairy tales, but suppose there is a lesson or two to be learned..... You can probably narrow down the dating by looking for other marks, they can be pretty well scattered on Dutch pieces, often tucked into the design somewhere (there's another "sword" on the bunny's foot). Still can't make out the other mark on the back, but in theory, there should be a Minerva-head assay office mark, a date letter and a maker's mark. ~Cheryl IP: Logged
allentownboy Posts: 67 Registered: Feb 2009	posted 12-13-2011 11:17 AM Kelly, You can find "Belgian Fairy Tales" (a 1919 reprint) by William Elliot Griffis in book form that you can order from that big online book retailer that starts with an A! It contains "The Belgian Bunny" and many other traditional stories. Hope that helps! IP: Logged

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