HistoricMemphisSouvenirSpoons

         ... in the Collection of Maureen Thoni White

 
 

Collecting souvenir spoons has been a popular hobby since the late 1800s when this European fad swept the nation.  Wealthy Americans on a "Grand Tour" of Europe brought home souvenir spoons marked with the names of cities and famous landmarks they had seen.  The first souvenir spoons produced in the United States were products of prominent silversmiths during the late 1800s.  Over the next 40 years silversmiths took every occasion to create a silver spoon, but the mania was short lived.  By World War One, the desire for souvenir spoons had lost its appeal and by the end of the war it had almost disappeared.  But it's back and once again it's a big-time, somewhat expensive hobby.  Now hundreds of spoons change hands at auctions around the world.  Just ask Historic-Memphis.com's Maureen Thoni White.  You'll frequently see her bids on EBay.

   

Historic-Memphis.com team member Maureen only began collecting spoons 2 years ago.  Team member Dave French began adding to her collection 1 year ago.  The collection concentrates entirely on early Memphis.

 

Click on small photos to see an enlargement  .  All photos by Maureen Thoni White


 

 

1881 Van Vleet -Mansfield Drugs 1881 Van Vleet -Mansfield Drugs
 

1891 Memphis Daily Scene ... Front and Back 1893 Memphis Cotton Bale ... Front and Back
 
 

1900 Black Americana 1901 UCV-1 1901 UCV-2 Memphis Bridge Bridge-Magnolia

Chickasaw Chief

 
 

Court Square

Court Square ... Enamel Squirrel

 

Court Square ... Skyline Handle-1

Dinstuhl's Candy ... Cutout Handle

 

Skyline Handle

Watermelon Bowl ...

 

Masonic Temple ... Wheat Handle

River Bluff Medallion

 
 

Memphis Bridge Memphis Bridge Customs House River Front Cotton Bale Customs House
 
 

 

Mr. Peanut

Peabody Hotel

   

Agriculture

Memphis ... Gold Bowl

   

Memphis Bowl

Gold Bowl ... Cotton Handle

   

... Chicken

1914 ... Masonic Temple

 
 

Vintage Hotel Gayoso ... Front and Back

1907 Customs House  ... Front and Back

 
 

Demi Blk Americana Demi Bridge Demi Bridge Demi Cotton Bale Demi Court House Demi Customs House
 
 

Demi Memphis Bowl ... Enamel Cotton Handle

Demi Gold Memphis Bowl

   
   

Demi Levee

Demi Commerce ... Front and Back

 
 
Floral Handle Hotel Peabody Memphis Scroll Handle Twisted Handle Mule Cart
 
 

Hotel Claridge Tea Spoon

 
 

Landmarks ... 1920s

Memphis - Tennessee

   

1910 Memphis Bridge

Unique Corn Handle

   

Native American

Gayoso Hotel

   

Courthouse

Beale Street

   

Load Cotton River Front Fireworks Memphis State Mud Island       Customs House
 
 

Memphis "A"

 

Memphis TN

     

1900 Native American

 

1909 "Memphis"  Front and Back

     
 

Cotton Exchange

 

King of the South

     
 

Banjo

 

1901 UCV Reunion

     
 

1919 Bridge - Cut out

 

Customs House - Enamel

     

   

Memphis ... Cotton Boll Handle

   
 
 
 

Contact:  Maureen Thoni White

 

 

 

 

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