posted 01-13-2011 02:44 AM            

Piece description:

Small tea spoon (Engraved as a souvenir spoon – “Los Angeles”), gold wash bowl,
Approx. 5” tall and 1” (at bowl) wide
Pattern matches the R. Wallace & Sons Lucerne 1896 pattern
[gone from the internet - i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb449/PTStager/DSCF4030.jpg]
[gone from the internet - i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb449/PTStager/DSCF4033.jpg]
[gone from the internet - i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb449/PTStager/DSCF4024-1.jpg]

This is the maker’s mark on the spoon:
[gone from the internet - i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb449/PTStager/DSCF4029-1.jpg]

I have seen the mark that is very similar to this, however, on the mark that is on this spoon the “stag” is flipped 90° to the left (on it’s side).

If anyone can help me, here are my questions:

1. Is this an R. Wallace & Sons mark? And, if so…

2. Are there any details (i.e. dates used, history, stories, etc.) that I can learn about from this? And…

3. In your opinion, is this considered to be a “rare” or unusual piece?

Thank you in advance for your help,

posted 01-13-2011 01:48 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by taloncrest:
I have sugar tongs and a sugar spoon in Lucerne, and they are marked in the same way. I'm not well versed in Wallace's marks, but I have noticed that on old International flatware pieces of the same period, the trademark is sometimes sideways from the sterling mark, I suppose to make it fit the space while leaving it big enough to easily see.

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Thank you for your information. At least I know I'm not the only one out there who has seen this.

posted 01-14-2011 12:45 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Kimo:
Lucern 1896 was made from 1896 to 1996 so there is no shortage of it. The engraving of Los Angeles looks to my eye like there may have been a local jeweler at some point in time who was making these to sell some extra stock silverware to tourists. The reason I an thinking this is that this may be the case is that it is not a specially made souvenir spoon with embossed or enamelled images on the handle and in the bowl - it is simply engraved lettering, professionally done, in the bowl of a standard silverware pattern spoon. It is also possible that this may be something done by either an apprentice engraver or even an experienced engraver who were working for a local jewelry store to keep them busy and in practice for customer commissioned engravings.

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I wholeheartedly agree with you about the pattern and the spoon. I have to add, however, that whoever did the engraving did a very good job.It is done very beautifully and artistic.

My main concer, though, was the maker's mark. Is that real?

Thanks again for your response.

PStager

posted 01-14-2011 02:10 AM            

Search Eaton & Glover on the linked page once it opens.

posted 01-14-2011 05:18 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by bascall:
Here's a link to an 1897 Jewelers' Circular advertisement on page 17 of the July 14th issue for the equipment to step up production of these souvenir items: Eaton and Glover

Search Eaton & Glover on the linked page once it opens.

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I thank you again for a very educational reply.

Just a little side note:

A few weeks ago I was researching a similar spoon with an engraving that turned out to be of a “local landmark”, long buried and gone into the past of the history of a town in Ohio. A town historian had passed my information and pictures to a gentleman who just happened to happened to have an identical spoon displayed on his office desk.

He called me and said that in the late 1800’s there was a “drifter entrepreneur” who came into town, set up a table and was engraving them on “everyday spoons” and selling them for about “six bits” apiece. He did, however, lead me to information that identified the photographer who had taken the very obvious picture that was used to create the spoon and the location of a museum where the picture was displayed.

I think that you can relate when I say that, for me, the value in not in the item, but what is gained by the quest.

My question about this spoon does not relate to a monetary rarity, but to verify first of all, is the maker’s mark actually an “R. Wallace” mark and, if so, is it something that is “typical”. Could it have been a “mistake” by possibly something like a misplaced die on some “junk” spoons that were just tossed out with the trash?

I know that I may never get the answer, but again, you never know unless you ask.

I thank you again.

posted 01-14-2011 02:16 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Kimo:
I would say it is an authentic and typical marking for a spoon where the the area for the marking is so narrow the only way to have it there is to make the spoon die with the maker's marking for that particular company to fit is to rotate it 90 degrees.

[This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 01-14-2011).]

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Thank you and I appreciate your information.

posted 01-16-2011 01:10 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Kurtzman:
I have seen this mark on holloware as well. There is nothing wrong with your spoon.

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Thank you.

posted 04-12-2011 04:26 PM            

Is there any possibility of learning the name of the town in Ohio where this drifting engraver appeared?