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Columbian Exposition Souvenir Spoons IL - Chicago,1893 - 2012aug - Worlds Fair

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:175.00 USD Estimated At:350.00 - 500.00 USD
Columbian Exposition Souvenir Spoons IL - Chicago,1893 - 2012aug - Worlds Fair
Invoicing and lot pick up will NOT be available at the live auction.
Lot of 10: 1) Scalloped-bowl sugar shell, 8.” Handle has picture of Columbus and a sailing ship. Gold highlights on the handle. Marked U.S. Sterling. 2-3) Two identical spoons, 8” with plain bowls. Ornate handles show Christopher Columbus and a sailing vessel, along with “Columbian Exposition.” Reverse sides picture a domed building and world globes. Marked “Quadruple Plate.” 4) An 8” spoon. The bowl contains a picture of the Woman’s Building, and the handle shows a woman in profile. On the reverse of the handle is “Eastman” in script. Made by Sterling Co., Pat 1893. 5-9) Set of spoons, 8” long, all with leafy-patterned handles and various Exposition buildings pictured in the bowls, including the Mines & Mining Building, the U.S. Government Building (these 2 spoons have narrow, elongated bowls but otherwise are identical to the other 3), the Transportation Building, the Agricultural Building, and the Art Palace. All manufactured by the Leonard Mfg. Co. A.1. Very little is known about this company other than that it produced silver plate spoons for the Columbian Exposition. Thought to be located in Chicago, IL. The A1 mark was typically found on silver plate around 1900 [forums.auctionbytes.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=9145]. The Columbian Exposition—or Chicago World Fair—was organized to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the United States. At the time when the fair opened, only 22 years had elapsed since the great Chicago Fire of 1871, and 28 years since the end of the Civil War. So in part the fair was organized to tout the progress that had been made and to bring people together. However, both women and African-American groups grew increasingly offended as they saw how “white” and gender-biased the fair was becoming. Ultimately, the women faired somewhat better in the end than did the African-Americans. Not only was a Board of Lady Managers mandated in the original act of Congress in establishing the management structure of the fair, but in the final outcome an entirely separate building was constructed for women’s exhibitions. Designed by Boston architect Sophia Hayden, it was located near where the Midway Plaisance joined the main exposition fairgrounds. The above spoon offered here is representative of that struggle. In many ways, the Columbian Exposition helped define American culture [Ref: encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1386.html]. -59292