Anyone know the pattern and use for this early Gorham Serving Spoon?

I've worked out that this is a very early Gorham mark (circa 1865), marketed by Benjamin & Ford out of New Haven, CT. What I can't figure out is the purpose for the spoon and what the pattern is. Anyone know? It's about 9 1/2" long.

 

The pattern is Kings 1 (the 1878 version.)

http://www.sterlingflatwarefashions.com/Patterns/Gorham11.html

Is the "bowl" of the spoon relatively "flat" or shallow?

 

Thanks! The bowl is about like you'd see for a tablespoon. Not flat. I'm confused. The patent date for the Benjamin Ford mark is earlier than an 1878 date. Plus I read that that Gorham mark was also earlier than 1878.

 

See the PAT 78 on your spoon? That's the date for the design.

 

Plus - the lion in the Gorham mark is facing right, not left. "Last quarter of the 19th century."

http://www.925-1000.com/Gorham_Date_Code.html

 

Cool...thank you

 

Another thing to be aware of is that the "circa" dates you've probably seen for Benjamin & Ford are not "patent dates" and are approximations. Ford survived Benjamin, as did Benjamin's son, who was also in the business.

I'd call it a tablespoon, what we call today a "serving spoon."

 

As Susan said, it is a serving spoon, for something that does not drip. And perhaps needs to have a top crust severed with the pointed tip -- such as Strata, or Bread Pudding, or Macaroni and Cheese.

 

Thanks for the clarification and explanations everyone.