Featured Scary enameled silver baby spoon

Found this today
Wife saw it and said it is scary and she doesn't want to see it again
I think it is somewhat cool looking "work of art".
It is certainly rare, haven't seen anything like it before.
Can anyone date it?

 

Cool! Unusual for sure

 

Very unusual. I agree, the girl's grin is scary and it looks like her head is floating above her body. The baby gator is cute though.
@DragonflyWink can probably tell you more about it.

 

Not a baby spoon, and not 'scary' to my eye - it's a late 19th-early 20th century 'Black Americana' enamel bowl spoon, made by Watson/Mechanics. You don't mention size, but guessing it's demitasse size, since you thought it 'baby' - not common, but hardly 'rare' - it has value...

~Cheryl

 

I was curious about the 1 5E thing and google came up with US 1 & Fl 5 as S Main St and Prudential Drive in Jacksonville. Of course I have no idea if that's right or what it means. Does anyone know what that means? Maybe it's I SE or something?

 

It's the vernacular for "I is" / I am.

 

Is it true that spoons with enamel are never for food, only for display?

 

Bet it's worth a ton of money. I saw this years ago on eBay and remember that it sold for hundreds:

 

A spoon like this was a souvenir, intended for display - on the other hand, there've been numerous fully enameled sets of demitasse or mocha spoons intended for use, as well as enamel handled pieces, both place and serving, also intended for use rather than display.

~Cheryl

 

My city ! Sis its "I'se" ,not 1 5e ,I think they were trying to convey black vernacular ,or their 19th century idea of it . Id kill to have it,but its not something Id have out for all to see.

 

Like most things, they're not bringing quite as much as they used to, but this one would still bring very good money, though teaspoon size usually has a bit more value...

~Cheryl

 

Well this is not something I collect so it will go to eBay. Hopefully it will finance some other item I like. It does freak me out a bit, has a bit of a zombie look to it.

 

Glad others understood this as I was utterly baffled. In case you're not sure, I'se sounds like eyes.

 

I find it offensive. Not because it was posted here. and not because it perhaps has some historical interest, but because it portrays racists beliefs.

 

In its own little way, it probably is historical witness. She is holding oranges. If she is meant to represent those who were providing labor as pickers, it's testament of a sort.

A search for 'Black Americana souvenir spoon' will show what's on the market. Yours is nicer quality than most currently on eBay. Few are enameled. There's this, which would be pretty with a plain handle:

 

It's a shame that our political correctness is destroying our history and what made us who we are today.

There is a large group who collect black memorabilia.

As for the spoon POLISH it. Enameled sterling spoons bring more than regular spoons.
Your spoon has an alligator rather than a boy eating watermelon. The boy probably added to the higher price realized.

 

Anybody have a Worthpoint account???
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/sterling-enamel-spoon-black-boy-slaves-picking

BTW, if you go on PicClick.com, wording 'Black Americana' different ways will bring up a ton of images!

 

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What does this mean?
I have seen others do it and always think it is a mis post. Now wondering if a "." has meaning to something.

 

I was going to respond your post, but thought better of it. The system didn't allow me to delete my response, though. So I used the ". " No more than that.