Fred Allen & Company
Demitasse Spoon (one of a set of four)

RetailerGalveston, Texas, active 1870–71, 1895–1901
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Demitasse Spoon (one of a set of four)
Datec. 1870
Retailed inGalveston, Texas, United States
Probable placeNew York , New York, United States
MediumSilver with gilding
Dimensions3/4 × 1 1/16 × 4 7/8 in. (1.9 × 2.7 × 12.4 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of William J. Hill
Object numberB.92.9
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Metals Study Room
Exposé

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

The integration of cameo profiles into flatware design is unique to American silver manufacturers. Medallion-handled flatware enjoyed a brief period of popularity concluding by the mid-1870s. Contemporary sources stressed that coffee be served in the French manner: “After dinner coffee should always be cafe noir, or strong black coffee. It should be poured out in the kitchen or butler’s pantry and handed round on a salver in tiny cups, with tiny gold or silver spoons and lump sugar, but no cream or milk.”

Technical notes: The spoon bowl is gilded. The design is struck on one side.  

Related examples: Five mates remain in the donor’s collection.

Book excerpt: David B. Warren, Michael K. Brown, Elizabeth Ann Coleman, and Emily Ballew Neff. American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection. Houston: Princeton Univ. Press, 1998.


Provenance[Whirligig Antiques, Austin]; William J. Hill (1934–2018), Houston; given to MFAH, 1992.
Exhibition History"Made in Texas: Art, Life and Culture: 1845–1900," Beeville Art Museum, Texas, September 20, 2014–January 10, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Marked on back of handle: F. A & Co. GAL. TX. [incuse]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Demitasse Spoon (one of a set of four)
Fred Allen & Company
c. 1870
Silver with gilding
B.2018.55.1
Demitasse Spoon (one of a set of four)
Fred Allen & Company
c. 1870
Silver with gilding
B.2018.55.2
Demitasse Spoon (one of a set of four)
Fred Allen & Company
c. 1870
Silver with gilding
B.2018.55.3
Berry Spoon
Gorham Manufacturing Company
c. 1868–1875
Silver and silver gilding
B.97.10
Set of Four Ice Cream Spoons
Gorham Manufacturing Company
c. 1860–1875
Silver and silver gilding
B.97.7.1-.4
Pudding Spoon
Whiting Manufacturing Company
c. 1866–1875
Silver and silver gilding
B.96.27
Serving Spoon
Gorham Manufacturing Company
c. 1875
Silver and partial gilding
B.2017.6
Nut Spoon
Gorham Manufacturing Company
c. 1869
Silver and silver gilding
B.95.8
Jug
Guadalupe Pottery Company
c. 1857–1869
Alkaline-glazed stoneware with salt drops
B.2012.127
Sugar Basket
Allcock & Allen
c. 1820–1840
Silver
B.91.52
Two Caddy Spoons
Wally Gilbert
c. 2009
Sterling silver, gilt, peridot (.1), or garnet (.2)
2022.403.1,.2
"Eagle Dance" Spoon and "Buffalo Dance" Spoon
Charles T. Grosjean
Designed 1884, made 1885–91
Sterling silver and gilt
97.195-97.196