Spoon set dated 1903-1914

Hello! These spoons belonged to my great-grandmother. The story goes that as a child she received a spoon every year on her birthday. On the back of each one of these spoons is an engraved date, one for every year 1903 through 1914. Also on the back of the spoons are markings of an eagle, R, and lion, that I've identified as Reed and Barton, under it "PAT.APPVD.FOR", and next to it, "STERLING". The first one, dated 1903, is bigger than the rest. I have also found a duplicate spoon dated 1913 that seems to have been cleaned, maybe it was a sibling's... Anyway, any identification, information and answers about these spoons would be appreciated so much. Thank you!

The first image is of the set. I don't know if this is the original holder, or even if this is the complete set.

The second and third images are close-ups of the front and back of some of the spoons. The dates on these three are engraved in different ways from each other.
The final image is a close up of the back of the duplicate 1913 spoon, on this one the markings are easiest to read.



So a couple of specific questions: From what I can see, these spoons seem to have more of a tarnish than a patina. Since I don't plan on selling them, should I polish them? I have a new container of Wright's Silver Cream but I can always return it to get a more antique friendly polish if that exists. What is the value of this set? Why is the first spoon big and why are the dates engraved differently? Any information on these spoons is welcome, thank you for looking!

 

If you click 'edit' on your post. you can select 'full image' for your pictures. This is preferable.

No harm giving them a polish. There may have been more than onne engraver in town.

You seem to know pretty much all there is to know

 

polish the hell out of em...

 

They'll be beautiful once polished!!

 

The pattern appears to be Les Six Fleurs. Last one in the right hand column on this page. http://sterlingflatwarefashions.com/Patterns/RB4.html

 

Dover, your spoons are lovely!

As others have said, yes, indeed, do polish them! The Wright's cream should do just find. (Just never, ever use Tarnex or any of those "dips!")

As for the spoon rack, it was undoubtedly purchased sometime much more recently than the spoons, simply to display them.

p.s. I LOVE the kitty in your avatar!

 

Responses to your other questions

1. Wright's is fine to use.

2. The differences in size (how long is the first? how long are the others?) and engraving may mean that they were purchased from different sources (retailer/jeweler/etc.)

 

Thanks for the responses, the first is 6 inches, and the rest are 5.5 inches. Any guesses on the value of the set or if it should be appraised?

 

Fancy spoons of this period are not uncommon, everyone who could afford them had them, and they are in my opinion worth from silver value to maybe one and a half times silver value, depending on the type of sale.

Ebay sold items may give you a guide. Do not look for a specifc pattern and maker, generic examples will be much the same as any specific design.

For insurance they could be valued at at least twice the metal value, and a bit more, but should not be worth enough to need special mention under your insurance.

 

Most times I've seen a series of spoons dated like this, one or two had a Christmas date as well.

 

Lovely. Here is the pattern on replacements.com. It has pieces of the pattern for sale. The prices on replacements are higher then auction sites because they have quite abit of overhead. The 6" spoon is a teaspoon and the 5 1/2" spoons are probably five o'clock teaspoons.
http://www.replacements.com/webquote/rdslesf.htm

--- Susan

 

It is not unusual to see a set of spoons with one larger than the other. In Scotland it would be called a masking spoon or mash spoon, to stir the tea in the teapot. It could also be a complete coincidence, seeing as how one was bought every year, that one is larger than the other.