Opinions on this Large SIlverplate Spoon , Pls? TY!

You know how you can just over think something and then get so wrapped around the axle that there's no hope for you? Well, that's where I am.

I bought this lot of miscellaneous Wallace silverplate flatware in the Floral pattern (a multi-motif pattern). It all has an R monogram. What I'd like your help with is the large spoons. Normally I would say Serving Spoon. They are 8 1/4" long. Where I went astray is that the set included 10 of them, the same number as the place settings.

Who would need 10 serving spoons for 10 people? So I looked at the on line catalog at the Fashions web site and that didn't help. But there was a reference to a Platter Spoon. What's that used for? So would every place setting have a gigantic spoon? You really couldn't get one of these in your mouth, just near it, kind of like a shovel, LOL!

Here's the photo. So is this just a plain ole serving spoon and the person had a lot of side dishes? Have a great holiday everyone!

 

The Replacements piece list says the 8 1/4 inch length is the Table Spoon, although they include (Serving Spoon) in the piece name. Maybe the etiquette of the day (when you didn't have servants) was to have a spoon this size at every place so the "serving" spoon didn't have to make the rounds of the whole table? Just a WAG. The catalog does list Table Spoon under the other spoons you'd expect to include in a setting.

That "Platter Spoon" looks more like something to use in serving things that don't go around the table. Like a "stuffing spoon?" to remove the stuffing from the bird?

 

Well, I didn't think to look at R. They call it a Table Serving Spoon? To me a Table Spoon is a little over 6" long and doubles for a soup spoon in a place setting. I don't know why I'm going round and round. I think I just list them over on the 'bay as a table serving spoon with the length and leave it at that. I suppose it's possible that this person wanted so many large spoons. Thanks, Bakers!

 

That sounds like a plan to me! Their piece title says "Table Spoon" and then Serving Spoon in parens. I have some older "Place spoons" that are around 7 inches, with the same oval shape as teaspoons. I did notice in the catalog that the "Soup Spoon" (shown separately) has a more roundish bowl, but not as round as a Cream Soup or Boullion.

 

After I looked on ebay, many of the sellers have large numbers of these to sell, like between 8 and 12. Do you remember seeing any of those old Westerns with the beans over the fire meal and someone is always using a gigantic spoon to shovel the beans into his mouth. Either that or the large porridge spoon in some old movies.

I suppose the people who want this pattern know what they want.

 

How about soup spoons? That would account for the equal number in the serving pieces.

 

That could be and that's typically what Table Spoons are used for, but these are so large by today's standards. But I'll bet you're right. Soup was eaten more often in 1906 than it is today (I imagine, that is). Campbell's can't get enough folks to eat their soups, but I could live on homemade soup all winter.

 

I do know they still make soup spoons as part of flat wear sets. They seem a bit larger than older set, but I guess if it fits in your mouth, it's good. I'm with you on the soup for winter, but I'm more partial to homemade chili.

 

The oval soup spoon in this pattern in only 7 1/8 inch long.

 

I agree. The bowl of Gumbo soup spoons is rounder and the place.oval spoon is oval in this pattern, both are shorter and both have different flower designs from this spoon. The Tablespoon in this pattern has the same floral design as yours and is the same length.

The following info and pics from replacements.com
http://www.replacements.com/webquote/wasflo.htm#

• Tablespoon (Serving Spoon)
• Size: 8 1/4 in

------------------------------------------------

• Round Bowl Soup Spoon (Gumbo)
• Size: 7 in

----------------------------------------------------

• Place/Oval Soup Spoon
  
• Size: 7 1/8 in

------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a little history on individual tablespoons. Do read more or less the introduction and the "History" section.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablespoon

--- Susan

 

Susan, that is interesting. Thanks for posting it!