Spoon, Soup / Gumbo, Holmes & Edwards, Danish Princes, Silverplate Vintage

• Pattern:  Vintage Soup Spoon, Danish Princess Pattern, Silverplate
• Made in USA  
• Vintage:  1938
• Details:  A beautiful, large soup spoon, originally intended for Gumbo, today it can certainly be used for Gumbo but since we're not so strict about our flatware, we think it makes a great serving spoon.  It is in a very old pattern called "Danish Princess" by Holmes & Edwards.  These become extremely useful on a buffet table, as well as at the dessert table, maybe even for your gravy boat!   It is stamped on back: "Holmes & Edwards, INLAID, IS".  IS is for International Silver.  Great as a hostess/host gift, or for someone who appreciates vintage flatware, perfect for a collector.  
• Material:  Silver plate
• Dimensions:  7.0 inches Long, the bowl of the spoon is 2.0 inches in Diameter.
• Condition:  Vintage - Used.  Excellent Condition.  As with all used silverplated pieces, there are several surface scratches, we feel acceptable due to age/use/wear.  Please review all pictures and make sure you love this item before purchasing, we can't accept returns.  Please remember these are VINTAGE and ANTIQUE items, they are NOT new, every effort has been made to show scratches, wear and tear and imperfections. 

The Holmes & Edwards Silver Co started in 1882, in Bridgeport, CT.  At first they made only low priced plated flatware.  However, there was a turning point when William A. Warner of Syracuse, New York joined the company.  Warner had invented, and patented, a technique of inlaying blocks of sterling silver at the wear points on the back of spoons and forks prior to plating them.  Because of that process they were able to offer a 25 year guarantee of no worn spots at those points.  That process brought them fame and prominence among the silver plate industry .  The Holmes & Edwards plant was taken over in 1898 by the International Silver Company, continuing to operate in Bridgeport until 1931 when it moved to Meriden.  In 1956 the trademark "SILVER INLAID" was changed to "HOLMES & EDWARDS DEEPSILVER" and in 1960 to "INTERNATIONAL DEEPSILVER".  Silver inlaid production was discontinued in 1972 and later marketed by Wallace International Silversmiths Inc.

International Silver Company and its factories were active in the whole Meriden-Wallingford area becoming possibly the larger center for silver craftsmanship in the US. The peak of the production was reached in the late 1930's.  The production of sterling holloware continued until 1976 while the silver plated holloware business was sold to Oneida Silversmiths in 1981.