Accession Number

2015.016

Alternate Name

teaspoon

Description

A silver spoon with an engraved image of the north and west facades of Craigdarroch in the bowl and the words "Dunsmuir Castle" beneath. Flowers are stamped along the handle with the engraved date "1891" in the centre of the flowers. On the back of the spoon bowl is engraved "Victoria, B.C."

Narrative

This Craigdarroch Castle souvenir teaspoon, inscribed “Dunsmuir Castle, 1891, Victoria BC” features a detailed engraving of Craigdarroch as viewed from Fort Street. The spoon blank was made by Wood & Hughes Co. of New York, New York, a firm that operated between 1845 and 1899.

Craigdarroch’s image was incorporated into various souvenir products available to tourists in Victoria during Joan Dunsmuir’s lifetime in the Castle (1890-1908). Examples in The Castle Society's museum collection include many early postcards and one miniature teacup (see 983.085).

This teaspoon is certainly one of the first souvenir items bearing the Castle’s image. The engraving is done by hand, and it is reasonable to conclude that not many, if any, other similar examples have survived.

History of Use

unknown

Date

1891

Dimensions

3 cm x 15 cm

Material

Metal, silver

Technique

Engraved; Stamped

Inscription

on the topside: Dunsmuir Castle; 1891
on the bottom: Victoria, BC

Country of Origin

United Sates of America; Canada