 Whiting mark for illustration only. This web page is not associated with Whiting Mfg. Co. or its successors in any way. Makers'
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Glossary of Terms |
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The state pages tend to focus on current information but usually contain historical data and links that can be extremely helpful with your spoon research. Don't ignore the reference librarians for tough questions.
Glossary of Spoon Collecting Terms
Just as is the case with any other area of specialization, spoon collectors have their own vocabulary to facilitate efficient and accurate communication about souvenir spoons. Some terms are unique to the silver trade, but other terms are just everyday words that have taken on a special meaning to spoon collectors. To assist the new collector, some of the most common terms are defined below. Where appropriate, the common abbreviation for a term is given in parentheses.
Glossary of Sterling Souvenir Spoon Collecting Terms |
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Caution: There are many
non-spoon-collectors selling spoons |
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| 800 or 850 | Silver alloy that is 800 or 850 parts per thousand pure silver. Less pure silver than sterling. |
| 925/1000 | The standard for sterling; silver alloy that is 92.5% fine. |
| bright-cut (bc.) | Engraving done with the cutting tool at an angle, leaving bright reflecting surfaces in the cuts. In contrast, normal engraving cuts straight into the spoon, leaving a dark design. Illustration here. |
| bowl | The "business" end of a spoon. |
| cast | To form a spoon by pouring melted silver into a mold. Cast spoons aren't as crisply detailed as some embossed spoons. Gorham was a major producer of cast spoons in the 1890's. Illustration here. |
| champleve | A type of enamel in which the design is cut into the silver with ridges left between colors to separate them. |
| citrus bowl | A more or less pointed spoon bowl (to get all the way into a grapefruit wedge). Also called an orange or grapefruit bowl. |
| cloisonne | A type of enamel in which thin strips of metal separate the colored enamel segments. |
| coin silver | 892 or 900 parts pure silver per 1000; this standard was replaced by STERLING [925/1000] after the Civil War. |
| collector spoon | A spoon made in recent times of various metals, usually not sterling. |
| cut-out | A spoon handle with its borders intact but an area cut out to highlight an embossed feature. |
| embossed (emb.) | A raised pattern formed by stamping a spoon in a die. Illustration here. |
| enamel (enam.) | A baked-on colored glossy finish. |
| engraved (engr.) | A design cut into a spoon. Illustration here. |
| etched | A design that is imparted to a spoon with acid, producing shallow relief. Illustration here. |
| finial | A cut-around shape at the tip of a spoon handle. |
| full figure (FF) | A cut-around, full-length figure occupying most of the handle. |
| full figure (ff) | A cut-around, full-length figure occupying a minor portion of the handle. |
| gold washed (gw.) | A coating of gold that is applied to a spoon or part of a spoon. Illustration here. |
| hallmark | A multi-part marking on English silver indicating purity, date and maker. American souvenir spoons do not have hallmarks, but most have maker's marks. |
| handle (h.) | The long portion of a spoon. |
| manufacturer (m.) | The company that actually made the spoon, frequently from a design that was copyrighted or patented by someone else. Many, but not all, spoons carry a mark identifying the manufacturer. |
| maker's mark | A single or multi-part mark on an American spoon indicating its manufacturer. It does not indicate the date or the silver content. |
| marriage | A spoon that appears to have been made from parts of two other spoons. |
| mule | A spoon with mis-matched subject matter on the handle and bowl; the Statue of Liberty in the bowl of a Kansas state handle spoon, for example. |
| new | A spoon made long after World War One, frequently from a die that was made before the war. |
| niello | An engraved design filled with a black alloy. |
| obverse (obv.) | The side of the spoon that is seen when one eats with the spoon; the "front" of the spoon. |
| old | A spoon made before World War One. |
| orange | A spoon bowl shape that is pointed rather than round. Also called "citrus" or "grapefruit". |
| plain bowl | A bowl with no engraving, etching or embossing. |
| plated | A spoon that is made with a base metal, frequently brass, then covered with a thin layer of silver. |
| plique-a-jour | Enamel with no metal backing, creating a stained glass window effect. |
| reissue | A spoon made in modern times from old dies. |
| repousse | A design that is beaten into a spoon from the reverse side. |
| reverse | The side of the spoon NOT seen when one eats with the spoon; the "back". |
| scene (scn.) | A panoramic, encompassing view of a place or thing. |
| skyline | A spoon handle entirely cut-around in the shape of a panoramic scene. A simple embossed scene that is not completely cut around is not a true skyline spoon. |
| souvenir spoon | A spoon that is cast, embossed, engraved or etched to commemorate a specific person, place, object or event. Almost all "old" souvenir spoons were made of sterling silver or silver plate during a period of about thirty years, roughly the last decade of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th century. A few "old" souvenir spoons were made of copper or other metals. |
| souvenirspoons.com | The source of this glossary, a web site dedicated to American sterling souvenir spoon collecting. Articles, pictures, reference guides, "for sale", purchasing, useful links, etc. Full URL is http://www.souvenirspoons.com |
| stamp | To impose a marking on a spoon through sudden high pressure as opposed to slow cutting or etching. Most sellers marks on souvenir spoons were stamped. |
| sterling | 925 out of 1000 parts pure silver, the remainder being of various metals such as tin and brass. This silver standard, adopted after the Civil War, is the standard for all "old" souvenir spoons. |
| 3-D | A spoon feature that is completely cut around and detailed such that it is a miniature replica of an object or person. |
| trademark | A mark that is embossed or stamped on a spoon identifying the maker and registered with the government. |
| view (vw.) | The image of just one aspect of an object, person or place. |
| vintage | Has no meaning with respect to souvenir spoons. You'll need to ask the author what he meant. |
Copyright © 1992 - 2000 Jon Caron. Permission is granted to print the entire glossary as displayed here, including this copyright notice. Any commercial use must obtain permission by emailing jon@souvenirspoons.com. |
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