Featured A couple of new spoons...

These two arrived recently, the first a fancy enameled spoon by Norwegian firm David Andersen, it came in a plain envelope, a single sheet of tissue paper loosely folded around it, just slid out of the envelope and tissue when opened (complimentary feedback not given for dumb*** seller). Extremely tarnished, it managed to survive the crummy packing:



After quite a bit of work:






I have other Scandinavian spoons by makers who also produced jewelry items in the same or very similar motifs/patterns - but until finding this sturdy 6.5" long spoon, have never seen this design by the Danish Erik Magnussen in other than the iconic brooch and matching earrings. Have long admired Magnussen's work, an international award winner, who came to the U.S. in 1925 to design for Gorham, and operated small shops in Chicago and Los Angeles after leaving Gorham in 1929. He returned to Denmark in 1939, and in 1940, with the advancement of the German forces, as a symbol of unity, he designed and produced the 'Nordic Swans' brooch, the ribbons on their necks displaying the colors of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland.






Brooch and earrings:



~Cheryl

 

Beautiful !!! ... Joy.

 

That spoon is fabulous. I'm so glad it didn't get smooshed.

 

Really beautiful, excellent buy ...jealous and I don't even collect spoons!

 

Those are AMAZING, Cheryl!

Are you actively collecting again - or did you never stop?

 

How did you manage to polish that spoon without damaging the enamel?

 

I love the first spoon, looks so much better polished up

 

Thanks, C - never stopped, pick up whatever piques my interest, and I feel is affordable. Usually just polish and pack them away - hoping I might get to where I can get all together and displayed in the next year or so, but will probably not happen that fast. So much to do...

Enamel is fairly tough to dull, and I just kept polishing gently (poor arthritic hands) - surprised at how much gilding remained, suspect it hadn't been touched in decades.

~Cheryl

 

sweet finds Dragon !!!!
I'd spoon with you anytime !!!

 

Good for you! I wish I could.

The day I packed up all of mine was so distressing... I haven't bought another one since, and I really TRY not look at others - at least not the ones for sale. I just don't need the temptation, and I doubt I will ever have a place to display them again.

Meanwhile, my son thinks they're "stupid" and his wife calls them "clutter".

I really had hopes of passing them on to my daughter, but her partner is such a minimalist that I doubt he would allow them in the house. (His first wife was so into "country kitsch" and "cute" that he seems to have developed a severe allergy to anything that isn't black or gray and straight-edged and modern. It's all hard, clean surfaces only.) How sad...

 

that is sad...for them !!
plus they shouldn't dis you like that........

 

Well, Komo, it's a case of "each to his own", I guess.

Now, remember, going back a few years: my now DIL is the girl who caused my dear son to say to me, "Mom, she doesn't like my stuff" - which led to his returning all of the things I had given him over the years from our house (furniture, dishes, silverware, curtains - you name it!) She's a true millennial, right down to the IKEA furniture and nothing in the kitchen that can't be microwaved and thrown in the dishwasher.

I really can't afford to get upset about it - I LIKE my kids, and their partners, and I also like peace! There are too many other stressors in life, and the "kids" should be able to like what they like and live as they prefer. They are good kids, kind & generous, and I really shouldn't complain at all.

 

That is sad, is that hard on your daughter, or is she okay with the dark minimalism? (Won't comment on son and wife's opinions.)

At the moment, my spoons that are at the house are packed in groups in fairly shallow little storage boxes, I look through them when making additions, or when I feel like it. Maybe if you don't think displaying them will ever be feasible, you could store them at home, in a way where you could enjoy them occasionally?

~Cheryl

 

Cheryl, that's a darned good question - and I've never been able to get a straight answer from her. She was NEVER anything BUT a "collector" - and most of her "stuff" is still at my house. It worries me, but Moms always worry, right? She certainly seems to be happy, but who really knows?

She's been with him for 2 years now, and I DO like the guy, but I know he has "issues". His first wife got pregnant by someone else while they were still married, and she has a baby at home, so their 2 kids live with him & my daughter. DD loves both of those kids to death, and she & the 5-year-old girl, especially, are glued together at the hip.

Where things will go from here is anyone's guess. All I can do is listen and try to be supportive.

As for MY collections, well, the silver is all individually wrapped and labelled and stored in boxes - not exactly accessible for viewing. I really have no idea what I will do with it. I don't feel ready to sell, and I still haven't given up on the idea that DD might someday want it. (DS & his wife? Forget it!)

 

Wow!!! And PHEWWW for the undamaged poorly/stupidly packed beauty
Enjoy your treasures

 

They are really beautiful. Made me want to go and look at spoons!. I love enamel in all it's forms and that top spoon deserves to be on show just for a while so you can enjoy looking at it. You've done an amazing job polishing it

 

Lovely.

 

@DragonflyWink..............

Beautiful spoons. Very different of each other.

The Unity spoon is very special.

The way Magnusson united the Nordic Countries with the colors of each country flag with such simplistic beauty is beyond words.

I wonder how many are still cherished and remain in private collections today by the families who lived the experience......

It has found a wonderful home with you Cheryl.

 

Uh beautiful!!!! Nice job polishing the Andersen and a stunning spoon it is! I'm wondering if there is further meaning to the swans, gathering together, flying away, rising up.....lots of possible meanings I guess. If there even was the intent for deeper meaning.

 

They are just beautiful.