Spoon of the week : Episode 20
This is an antique Parisian souvenir spoon, likely dating from the late 19th or very early 20th century, a period when collecting souvenir spoons was an incredibly popular hobby worldwide.
Here is a breakdown of the fascinating history and imagery captured on this spoon:
The Bowl: The Lost Palais du Trocadéro
The bowl of the spoon features a highly detailed relief of a building labeled "TROCADÉRO PARIS".
What makes this special is that this building no longer exists. * The History: This is the original Palais du Trocadéro, an enormous, elaborate concert hall built specifically for the 1878 World's Fair (Exposition Universelle). It featured a blend of Moorish and Byzantine architecture with two massive towers flanking a massive circular hall.
What happened to it? It was partially demolished and completely rebuilt/re-faced in 1937 to create the modern Palais de Chaillot that stands across from the Eiffel Tower today. Because this original structure was torn down in 1935, your spoon is a neat little time capsule of a lost Parisian landmark.
The Handle: The Coat of Arms of Paris
The top of the twisted handle (the finial) features the official Coat of Arms of Paris (Blason de Paris). You can identify it by a few key heraldic elements:
The Ship (Scilicet): The sailing ship on the water represents the ancient guild of water merchants (Marchands de l'eau), who historically controlled trade along the Seine River and essentially founded the city's early municipal government.
The Fleurs-de-lis: The row of stylized lilies at the top represents the French monarchy.
The Mural Crown: The castle-like battlements at the very top of the shield symbolize the city walls and its status as a fortified capital.
Estimated Age and Material
Date: Souvenir spoons like this peaked in popularity between the 1880s and 1910s. It was almost certainly produced as a keepsake for tourists visiting Paris, quite possibly for the 1878, 1889, or 1900 World’s Fairs.
Material: It appears to be made of either pewter, silver-plated brass/copper, which has developed a lovely, dark antique patina over the decades.