Sturbridge Village Spoon Appraisal

Old Sturbridge Village Souvenir Spoon

This is a vintage souvenir spoon, likely crafted from a base metal with a silver-tone finish. Its overall length appears to be approximately 3-4 inches, a common size for collector spoons. The most distinguishing feature is the handle's finial, which is adorned with an oval-shaped, domed enamel or resin insert. This insert features a colorful illustration of a red building with a white roof and chimney, indicative of a historic mill or similar structure, set against a yellow background. Above the building, the text "OLD STURBRIDGE" is visible, and below it, "MILL 'ACA'" or similar appears, strongly suggesting it represents Old Sturbridge Village, a living history museum in Massachusetts. The finial itself is elaborately decorated with ornate, almost rococo-style scrollwork and a small, raised crown-like embellishment at its very top. The spoon's stem is slender, featuring some decorative etching or embossing below the finial, possibly mimicking foliage or classic scroll patterns on either side. The bowl of the spoon is a standard oval shape. The surface of the spoon, particularly the bowl, exhibits visible signs of wear, including numerous small scratches, scuffs, and what appear to be water spots or tarnishing, indicating its age and prior handling. There are no obvious dents or major structural damages, but the finish shows a lack of consistent shine, typical for an item of this type that has not been recently polished. The craftsmanship appears to be mass-produced, common for souvenir items from the mid to late 20th century. The details in the finial's illustration are clear, though small. The item serves primarily as a collectible memento.