You're never the wrong age to admire and collect old American sterling souvenir spoons.


Spoon collectors from Maine to California, Florida to Washington, plus Canada, Australia and South Africa gathered in Falls Church, VA in July. There they renewed friendships, swapped spoons, enjoyed a spoon display competition, bid furiously in an auction, participated in spoon collecting workshops and toured our nation's capital area.

The Northeast Spoon Collector's Guild, whose mascot is shown at right holding a spoon and a reduced-size Washington Monument, hosted the event. Their diligent planning during the last 12 months was clearly evident as all the collectors were able to enjoy all the events without a hitch. Thousands of spoons changed hands, many yarns were spun, and a good time was had by all.

Rather than attempt an hour by hour accounting of the convention, this report uses just a few pictures that I believe capture the spirit of the event.

 

 

Prospective bidders evaluate the old sterling silver souvenir spoons about to be auctioned.

Checking out the silver souvenir spoons before the auction.

I hear $200; who will give me $210 for this historical sterling spoon?

 Spoon collectors competing at auction for sterling souvenir spoons.
A bidder follows along on her annotated auction catalog as the sterling spoons are put on the block.

Hmmm, that souvenir spoon looks better than it did in the catalog.

This sterling souvenir spoon looks nice.

 The table is piled high with plastic bags, each containing 4 old souvenir spoons.
Display boards explain some historic souvenir spoons commemorating Washington.

Renewing old friendships, sharing spoon collecting ideas.

So many souvenir spoons; there must be at least one for our spoon collections in here somewhere.

 Four spoon collectors share a table as they sort through hundreds of sterling souvnenir spoons.
Artfully displayed, these fishing spoons tell a story in silver.

An award-winning display of fish
 souvenir spoons.

Did you ever see so many Shepard
 enamel souvenir spoons?

 Enamel on sterling, from one of the premier sterling souvenir spoon manufacturers, Shepard Mfg. Co. of Melrose Highlands, MA
Spoon collectors enjoying their achievements.

The award winners at the closing banquet.

Now it's party time...

 "Hanging a spoon" for the very first time!
A pro, she only lost the third one when I asked her to smile.

and time for some silliness!

Look at my silver souvenir spoon!

 I'm speechless, too! ; - )

Congratulations, NSCG, on a superb event!

Watermarked and Copyright © 2000 Jon Caron