Simmons Hardware Co THISTLE 1906 Art Nouveau round bowl gumbo spoon

  The shipping costs for the 50 states and Puerto Rico are included in the listed price of this item. For any other destination, please email for a shipping quote BEFORE bidding. I ship only by USPS Priority Mail & Express Mail, no exceptions. I NEVER ship silver in envelopes. I neither solicit nor accept offers. Listed items will not be marked down during the listing duration. Thistle was brought out in 1906 by Simmons Hardware Co, which was best known for their line of Keen Kutter knife blades. Apparently this company did not sell through the usual jewelry and department store outlets. Instead they used the hardware and general stores to put their silver before the public. Thistle can also be found with the mark of the EHH Smith Company. The pattern is an Art Nouveau wreath of thistles with leaves trailing down to the end of the handle. The piece offered here has the SH Co mark of Simmons Hardware. There are four types of soup spoons: the oval, which comes with the set, and looks like a small tablespoon; the bouillon, which looks like a very small round spoon; the cream soup, which resembles a very large sugar shell or a smaller round soup spoon, and the round soup spoon. The round works for soups that are not particularly chunky, more like a clear soup with some chicken and noodles. The oval is better for stew type soups. The cream soup spoon is ideal for tomato or lobster bisque. The bouillon spoon is for eating clear broth. Soup seems to be making a comeback as a guest food. It is relatively easy to make, can be adjusted to fit any kind of dietary demands, and is nourishing and filling without necessarily being heavy or fatty. In fact, a meal of salad, homemade soup, and fruit is both healthy and hospitable. In the South the round soups are called gumbo spoons. The round bowl soup spoon offered here measures about 7". This is not a piece of new silver. It shows the patina of as much as 110 years of use. There are the light scratches which constitute normal patina. There is no monogram. Silver is softly lustrous. There is a heel dot, and the bowl has a tiny deeper scratch. The pattern is crisp and clear. This type of soup spoon is a hard-to-find piece in this pattern. I polish all silver before listing on eBay. Please email with any questions before bidding. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE AUCTION DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY. BY BIDDING YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY MY TERMS OF SALE including the cost and method of shipping and my return policy. I welcome international bidders, but remember that shipping charges can be high. Ask before you bid. Winning bidder to pay shipping charges unless otherwise specified. I ship by United States Postal Service only. I ship all silverware via USPS Priority Mail in boxes. I NEVER ship silverware in envelopes. I insure ALL shipping, as I sell old and scarce items that cannot be easily replaced. Domestic shipping charge for 1 pound or under is now $6.85, which is Priority Mail. International shipping charges vary widely, and I now must use only International Priority shipping, in order to be able to insure the package, purchase a tracking number and proof of delivery, all of which protect both buyer and seller. I now print shipping labels online to keep shipping costs down as much as possible, so I can ship only to the buyer's confirmed address. I regret that I can no longer ship gifts directly to the recipient. Payment in US funds only, and I accept only Paypal. I must receive payment in full within 7 days after the end of auction. Returns accepted only if there is a provable serious error in the listing. A buyer's failure to read the entire description before bidding is not a valid reason for a return. I must be notified within 30 days of receipt of goods. Items must be postmarked within 30 days of receipt, and must be returned in the original packing. No frivolous returns accepted. This return policy is not intended to allow returns for items that do not sell at the buyer's venue, or items that are purchased with intent to use for a special occasion and then be returned.

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