Antique brass spoons

These are about 6" long and stamped with X X L and another mark on the back. They are brass and are stamped with vine/leaf design on the handle. Any ideas of when and where they came from? Thanks!

 

That last punch looks like the eagle with slightly spread wings that is sometimes found on early 19th century coin silver flatware thought to be from upstate New York, although I have not seen it with more than 1 letter.

 

They don't look like brass - have you tried polishing them?

 

They are yellow metal, just like brass. I haven't polished them.

 

Sometimes coin silver can look brassy yellow if tarnished, that's why I asked. They look very much like an American spoon shape to me.

 

Look like coin with gold wash to me.

 

They look to me like brass with remnants of plating, especially in the recesses (like in the marks, the engraving, where the bowl joins the stem on the back) - that said, I find them puzzling.

Have seen brass or silverplate, worn to brass 19th century spoons before, usually British, though from elsewhere too (I have a couple of Scandinavian packed away somewhere), and it could be from elsewhere, but the proportions, pointed shoulders, even the shape of the bowl could be American, especially with that eagle pseudo-mark, which as Bakersgma mentions closely resembles some found on American coin. Found two eagles in McGrew that are pretty similar, both unattributed, one found with numerous different retailers, the majority in Philadelphia, the other only found with a single Cincinnati retailer's mark - to be very clear, those eagle marks were found on coin silver.

Personally find that naive engraving very unusual, but if American, a place of immigrants, it certainly could have roots elsewhere (and the spoons could also be from elsewhere) - but also find it odd to have even bothered engraving what would have been a very inexpensive spoons, even the 'XXL' strikes me as very uncommon initials (if they are supposed to be initials). Can poke around a bit later in the references I have handy, to see if I can find something similar...

~Cheryl

 

Thanks! This ebay listing for a child's spoon and fork looks very similar. The seller doesn't have a lot of information other than early 19C.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coin-silve...492959?hash=item2116ec1b1f:g:X-YAAOSwTA9X2rjv

 

Interesting - the decoration is stamped on those - they're definitely not coin, and more likely mid 19th century.

I'm not at home, so on my phone, but did a quick internet search...

This one is very similar to yours, no engraving, sharing at least one mark with the one you linked. Marks are upside down, in correct orientation, could that second mark be an eagle?):

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/233553052844

This one shares two marks with the one you linked (scroll down):

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/88551586_an-english-brass-fiddle-pattern-spoon-with-pseudo

These are marked 'DIXON' (scroll down):

https://www.rubylane.com/item/370063-008383/6-Early-Hand-Made-Fiddle-Back


~Cheryl

 

While looking for similar marks online, I came across a booklet (pdf) published by the Canadian Parks Service of Trademarks on Base Metal Tablewear. It's too large to upload here, but you can go to the page and save a copy if you're interested.

 

Nice - might be useful for other members, I've had it in my files for years...

~Cheryl