Souvenir spoons are a common sight at estate sales and flea markets, and most of the ones you’ll see there, especially the silver-plated ones, are worth a buck or two. That’s why people tend to pass them all by, and that’s a mistake.
One of them could actually be a rare sterling silver souvenir spoon from the 1890s that collectors will pay well over $100: a set of Imperial Russian Cloisonné Enamel Spoons sold for over $820.
This guide walks you through what makes some souvenir spoons valuable, shows rare finds actively collected today, and gives you a simple way to identify the originals.
A Brief History of Souvenir Spoons (1889–1915)
America’s first souvenir spoon came out in 1889: a George Washington spoon by Galt & Bro. of Washington, D.C., made for the 100th anniversary of his presidency.
The real craze began around 1890, when Seth F. Low, son of the Salem jeweler Daniel Low, bought several souvenir spoons while traveling in Germany and returned with the concept to America, according to PBS History Detectives.
Seth designed the renowned Salem “Witch Spoon” for his father’s store, and it was trademarked on January 13, 1891. The Witch Spoon sold several thousand copies and sparked a national obsession that lasted until World War I.
Within months, hundreds of patterns were being made for American cities, world’s fairs, presidents, and historical events. That golden era from 1890 to about 1915 is where collectors find the real money today.
What Makes a Souvenir Spoon Actually Valuable?
Six key things work together to determine what antique and vintage souvenir spoons are worth today.
- Material – Sterling silver beats silverplate every time. An ordinary silver-plated spoon generally retails for less than five dollars, whereas sterling may begin at twenty dollars but rise rapidly from there.
- Maker – Big names like Gorham, Tiffany & Co., Whiting, Shreve & Co., and Wallace command premiums over no-name producers.
- Age – Usually, pre-1920 spoons are the sweet spot. Spoons more than one hundred years old are considered genuine antiques.
- Theme – World’s Fair, Native American figure, countries that no longer exist (such as Imperial Russia), and local places are better options than famous landmarks like Niagara Falls.
- Condition – Tarnish is fine and easy to clean. Dents, deep scratches, and engraved monograms hurt value badly.
- Documentation – Spoons that appear in collector books, such as Chris McGlothlin’s World’s Fair Spoons, Volume One: The Columbian Exposition, get a bump because collectors can verify them.
12 Rare and Valuable Antique Souvenir Spoons (With Sold Prices)
Here are 12 antique souvenir spoons that collectors consistently look for and pay for at online sales and auctions. From a notable maker’s mark to high-quality material and unique designs, each one comes with a unique feature that pushes the value.
1. Imperial Russian Cloisonné Enamel Spoon
Russian pieces are the most colorful in any vintage spoon category. Pre-revolution era examples display polychromatic cloisonné enamel decoration on both surfaces of the handle and often on the bowl in floral and geometric motifs in many hues.
You can identify authentic Russian souvenir spoons by the 84 zolotnik stamp, equaling 875 parts per thousand silver content, and the Cyrillic maker’s hallmark.
Workshop attributions to Khlebnikov, Ovchinnikov, or anything Fabergé-related also add value. Forgeries are common, so identify correctly or get expert verification.
- Estimated Value: $200 to $2,000+
- Production Years: 1880 to 1917
- What to Check: 84 zolotnik mark, Cyrillic stamp
- Quick Notes: Watch for modern replicas; check the stamp.
2. Gorham Apostle Spoons
The handles of Apostle spoons have small figurines of the twelve apostles at the end, an ancient practice that dates back to the time when Apostle spoons were made in England during the 16th century.
Individual apostle spoons turn up fairly often and sell for modest prices. But a complete set, including the Jesus master spoon along with its case, is extremely rare.
Gorham made its Apostle spoons in sterling silver. Complete 13-piece sets in their original display case can fetch $2,500 or more.
- Estimated Value: $50 (single), $2,500 to $3,500+ (for full Gorham set)
- Production Years: Late 1800s to early 1900s
- What to Check: Gorham mark, 13-piece completeness, case
- Quick Notes: Master Jesus spoon must match the set.
3. The 1891 Daniel Low Salem Witch Spoon
This is the spoon credited with starting the American souvenir spoon craze. Made in sterling silver by Durgin for Daniel Low & Co., it features a raised witch figure, the word Salem, and three witch pins copied from artifacts at the Salem Court House.
A second, more elaborate version, made for Daniel Low by Gorham, followed in 1891 as the Witch Trials Bicentennial approached. It added a black cat, a broom, a rope, and a crescent moon to the design. That variant is also quite collectible.
- Estimated Value: $80 to $300+
- Production Years: 1891 onward
- What to Check: A witch figure, three pins, “Salem.”
- Quick Notes: First version is rarer than later reissues
4. Tiffany & Co. City Souvenir Spoon
A souvenir spoon marked Tiffany & Co. will surely attract attention. Only selected cities and occasions received souvenir spoons from Tiffany, and that too mostly between 1890 and 1915. So, these spoons are highly collectible.
Also, Tiffany souvenir spoons have superior quality, with sharp engraving and heavy silver.
Always check for the “Tiffany & Co.” and “Sterling” marks on these. Many pieces also carry a letter such as “M,” “T,” or “C,” the initial of the man in charge at Tiffany when the piece was made (“M” for Edward C. Moore before 1891, “T” for Charles L. Tiffany from 1891 to 1902). It narrows the period but does not give the exact year.
- Estimated Value: $150 to $600
- Production Years: 1890 to 1915
- What to Check: City designs, Tiffany mark with an “M,” “T” or “C” letter
- Quick Notes: Heavier spoons than most makers.
5. Nude Figural Art Nouveau Spoon
Nude figures turn up on Art Nouveau silverware, but they are much less common on souvenir spoons. Only a few makers of Art Nouveau silverware decorated the handles of their spoons with nude figures between 1890 and 1910, always accompanied by flowing hair, twisting vines, or floral elements.
Unger Brothers, known for Art Nouveau patterns with flowing-haired women such as “He Loves Me” and “Dawn,” is one maker to look for.
The designs wear down quickly because the raised figures become smoother each time someone polishes them, so condition is a major value factor.
- Estimated Value: $100 to $500+
- Production Years: 1895 to 1910
- What to Check: Raised nude figure, flowing details
- Quick Notes: Look for the Unger Brothers mark
6. Gorham Sterling Enamel State Spoon
Gorham created state spoons made of sterling silver with state emblems painted in enamel on either the bowl or handle of the spoon. The beauty of enamel cannot be achieved by simple engravings.
Common states like New York are easier to find, while smaller states or early statehood designs are scarcer. Enamel is another major value driver here; even a tiny chip can knock the price down by half.
- Estimated Value: $60 to $250
- Production Years: 1890 to 1915
- What to Check: Gorham lion, anchor, and “G” mark, enamel condition
- Quick Notes: Check enamel under the loupe for chips.
7. 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (Columbian Exposition) Spoons
Several makers took part in the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, producing sterling spoons with handles showing Columbus, the fair buildings, and Chicago landmarks like the Water Tower.
Hundreds of varieties were created for this single fair. Tiffany & Co. also made a Columbus spoon for the fair (the set shown is by other makers), and a clear Tiffany mark adds to the price.
These spoons are generally more valuable as a set of six or more, showing different landmarks.
- Estimated Value: $40 to $100 per spoon
- Production Years: 1892 to 1893
- What to Check: Columbus, 1492/1893 dates, fair buildings
- Quick Notes: Tiffany & Co. examples bring the highest premium.
8. David Andersen Norwegian Enamel Spoon
David Andersen opened his workshop in 1876 in Christiania, as Oslo was called until 1925, and he soon gained fame for his cloisonné enamels that held their own against Russian ones from that time.
The majority of souvenir spoons made by Andersen are inspired by Dragestil. You will find them painted in the colors of cobalt blue, emerald green, rich red, and yellow guilloche enamel, mostly with bowls that are gold-washed.
Complete cased sets of either six or eight demitasse spoons occasionally appear in auctions, but always fetch premiums.
- Estimated Value: $40 (single); $250 to $1,100+ (for sets)
- Production Years: 1890s to 1940s
- What to Check: “David Andersen” or “D-A” maker’s mark with a silver standard, like 830S (older), 925S or “Sterling” (later)
- Quick Notes: Cased original boxes add big value.
9. Shreve & Co. San Francisco Bear Spoon
The Shreve & Co. of San Francisco mainly produced California-style pieces featuring bears, seals of California, and mission scenes on the bowl.
Spoons from the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition in San Francisco are also worth watching for, though not all of them were made by Shreve.
Another thing to note is that these have a built-in West Coast collector base. So, California silver tends to fetch higher prices from regional buyers than it might bring in Midwest or East Coast markets.
- Estimated Value: $75 to $350
- Production Years: 1890 to 1915
- What to Check: Shreve mark, bear, or Mission scene
- Quick Notes: West Coast demand drives prices up.
10. Native American Chief Figural Spoon
These spoons feature a fully sculpted Native American chief on the handle, often in a headdress, with the bowl decorated with regional scenes or tribal motifs.
Gorham was making figural spoons like these by 1891, and other makers followed through the early 1900s.
Figural handles are harder to make than flat engraved ones, which is why they cost more back then and now, too. Named figures such as Chief Ouray of the Ute can bring strong prices when they appear.
- Estimated Value: $50 to $400+
- Production Years: About 1890 to 1915
- What to Check: Sculpted chief, full headdress detail
- Quick Notes: Named historical chiefs are worth more.
11. 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Spoon
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition also produced a wide range of spoon patterns, with bowls showing its different exhibit palaces. The spoons have similar handles that link the purchase from 1803 to the exposition in 1903. They feature a buffalo hunter, covered wagons, and campfires, among others.
Always pay attention to which building shows up in the bowl. Bowls showing a fair building, such as Festival Hall or the Cascades, are popular with collectors, so check which scene yours shows.
- Estimated Value: $40 to $200
- Production Years: 1903 to 1904
- What to Check: 1803/1903 dates, buffalo or wagon
- Quick Notes: Building-scene bowls are more valuable.
12. Whiting Manufacturing Demitasse Spoon
Whiting Manufacturing made small demitasse spoons (the tiny ones for coffee) with figural handles featuring everything from city seals to historical figures. They’re shorter than tea spoons, usually about 4 inches, and were sold individually or in sets of six.
The spoon shown above is a Whiting pattern spoon (Hyperion, a longer “English” demitasse at 5 7/8 inches), not a souvenir design, so check the handle for a city seal or figure before you price yours as a souvenir spoon.
Boxed sets command much higher prices than single spoons. Also, check the Whiting mark on the back, a “W” with a lion or griffin, which the 925-1000.com silver marks encyclopedia lists for Whiting, to confirm authenticity.
- Estimated Value: $50 to $300
- Production Years: 1880s to 1926 (Gorham bought Whiting in 1924 and had fully absorbed it by 1926)
- What to Check: “W” with lion or griffin mark, figural handle
- Quick Notes: Boxed sets can fetch 3 times the value.
How to Identify Valuable Antique Souvenir Spoons in 5 Steps
Now, before you decide to tag your old spoons as a souvenir, you must ensure it’s actually one. The following steps will help you identify authentic, valuable souvenir spoons easily.
Step 1: Look for the Material Stamp
Start with the one hallmark that tells you what metal the spoon is made of. Sterling silver will be marked “STERLING,” “925,” or “Lion Passant.” Silver plate hallmarks include “EPNS,” “A1,” “TRIPLE PLATE,” or “QUADRUPLE PLATE.”
Coin silver spoons, mostly made before about 1870, are roughly 90 percent silver and may be stamped “COIN,” “PURE COIN,” or just the maker’s name.
And no, a silver spoon is almost never 100 percent silver: sterling is 92.5 percent silver, and silver plate is only a thin coat of silver over a base metal.
Step 2: Find the Maker’s Mark
American makers stamped their logo alongside the material mark. Gorham used a lion, an anchor, and a “G.” Tiffany & Co. often added a letter such as “M,” “T,” or “C” for the man in charge at the time, not a year. Whiting used a “W” with a lion or griffin.
The American hallmarking system was not as strict as Britain’s, so American spoons from the souvenir era usually bear only the word “STERLING” along with the company’s symbol, with no date letter.
I would recommend using a 10x loupe, since the stamps are small and often worn from polishing.
Step 3: Date the Spoon
British spoons carry a hallmark date letter, which is the easiest way to track the exact production year.
However, American spoons need a different approach. You need to look at the style of the handle, the depth of the bowl, and any dates engraved on the front. All these features work together to give you a narrow window of time, during which it could be made.
Step 4: Identify the Theme
Look at the bowl and the handle for a motif or design based on a city, building, person, or occurrence/event. The theme often matters more than the maker.
For example, an ordinary spoon made by Gorham depicting Niagara Falls is worth less than a rare small-town-based spoon by an unknown silversmith.
Step 5: Cross-check with Documented Examples
As a last check, go online, search for your exact spoon to find out the exact design or example. Once confirmed, you can research the name on sites like eBay or Etsy to see the current market value of “sold” souvenir spoons. It’s the most accurate market check you can do for free.
Next time you see a vintage spoon with figures or buildings on it, do not overlook it. Flip the spoon, find the mark, check the theme, and run a quick search online. This quick process can save you from leaving a $150 sterling Tiffany on a sale.
Souvenir spoons aren’t the only small pieces in an old kitchen drawer that can surprise you; see old kitchen finds worth money.
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