This souvenir spoon belongs to the collection of silver and EPNS (electroplated nickel silver) tableware, trophies, napkin rings and spoons made and/or used in Australia between the 1890s and 1950s. Presented to the Museum in 2002, the collection was assembled in the 1980s by Dr G W Kenneth Cavill, an Emeritus Professor of the University of New South Wales. In his retirement, Professor Cavill has researched and published the histories of notable Australian silverware manufacturers of the first part of the 20th century. The collection is representative of their products.

Giftware, such as spoons and napkin rings, is particularly well represented. Spoons of Australian design, decorated with Australia's unique flora and fauna, were made from at least the 1890s. Harold Sargison of Hobart designed and crafted silver spoons from about 1920, when he acquired a jewellery business at 31 Murray Street, until his retirement in 1980, at the age of 95. Today Sargison is best remembered for his ecclesiastical wares, in particular the gold monstrance, designed by Alan C. Walker, he made in 1932 for Hobart's St Mary's Cathedral. This spoon was probably made in the late 1940s and represents a popular design for the tourist market produced by Tasmanian silversmiths from the turn of the century. (See: K. Cavill, G. Cocks, J. Grace, 'Australian jewellers, gold and silversmiths makers and marks', 1992, p. 208; also: K. Cavill, 'Commemorative and souvenir spoons of Australian interest, 1894-1994', Australiana, 1994 (4), pp 95-106.)

Spoon, souvenir with map of Tasmania finial, silver, made by Sargison's, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1940 - 1950

A small silver spoon with a wide, beaten [hammered] bowl, long, angular and partly twisted stem and a small flat finial in the form of a stylised map of Tasmania. 'TASMANIA' stamped across the map. The back of stem stamped with maker's mark: 'SARGISON'S' and 'HOBART', 'SILVER.

Made by Sargison's in Hobart in the 1940s.

Part of the Prof. Kenneth Cavill collection.

Donated by Professor Kenneth Cavill through the Au

Stamped on front of map fininal: 'TASMANIA'.

Stamped on back of stem: 'SARGISON'S', 'HOBART', and 'SILVER'.

2002/78/23

1940

24 mm