Help IDing Spoon Bowl

[middenmaidenvt]

I detected this spoon bowl on an old hillside farm in Vermont, I. What would have been a field. Questions I have are how to ID the material? I’ve gotten folks saying pewter, silver and bronze. Also, is there a way from shape, style, size etc to get an approximate date?

 

[middenmaidenvt]

 

[middenmaidenvt]

 

[Chroma]

Does not look like silver or pewter. The green color (verdigris) makes me think copper or brass. Can't help on dating.

 

[middenmaidenvt]

Copper was my first guess too based on the green patina. Some folks did say that pewter or silver can turn green under ground but I haven’t been able to find any info to that effect.

 

[Chroma]

Copper was my first guess too based on the green patina. Some folks did say that pewter or silver can turn green under ground but I haven’t been able to find any info to that effect.

It could be some sort of pewter with copper in it. Might have been handmade with a mold using whatever low melting point metals they had on hand.

Looking at photos closer, the non-green areas don't really look like brass or copper. Looks closer to tarnished silver, but the edge of the spoon also looks flaky like pewter. Could try filing it to see the color of the metal underneath the patina.

 

[Rock Jock]

I agree with Chroma and middenmaidenvt. I suspect you have a copper spoon that may have been plated with silver but worn thin. You could polish an edge to see if it is reddish (copper) or yellowish (brass) within or you could rub the edge on unglazed porcelain such as a porcelain dish bottom ring to see if it has a reddish or yellowish streak for elemental copper or alloy brass.

Welcome to the forum middenmaidenvt! Are you somehow associated with archaeology since "midden" is a familiar archaeology jargon term?

 

[middenmaidenvt]

I agree with Chroma and middenmaidenvt. I suspect you have a copper spoon that may have been plated with silver but worn thin. You could polish an edge to see if it is reddish (copper) or yellowish (brass) within or you could rub the edge on unglazed porcelain such as a porcelain dish bottom ring to see if it has a reddish or yellowish streak for elemental copper or alloy brass.

Welcome to the forum middenmaidenvt! Are you somehow associated with archaeology since "midden" is a familiar archaeology jargon term?

I agree with Chroma and middenmaidenvt. I suspect you have a copper spoon that may have been plated with silver but worn thin. You could polish an edge to see if it is reddish (copper) or yellowish (brass) within or you could rub the edge on unglazed porcelain such as a porcelain dish bottom ring to see if it has a reddish or yellowish streak for elemental copper or alloy brass.

Welcome to the forum middenmaidenvt! Are you somehow associated with archaeology since "midden" is a familiar archaeology jargon term?

thanks for the tips! I’m currently traveling in Italy but will try some of those techniques when I get home. I’m not an archaeologist but it’s always wanted to be one! I’m sure the archaeologists don’t like us metal detectors but we get a taste of rescuing history that most archaeologists aren’t looking for!

 

[middenmaidenvt]

It could be some sort of pewter with copper in it. Might have been handmade with a mold using whatever low melting point metals they had on hand.

Looking at photos closer, the non-green areas don't really look like brass or copper. Looks closer to tarnished silver, but the edge of the spoon also looks flaky like pewter. Could try filing it to see the color of the metal underneath the patina.

I’m currently traveling abroad but will try a couple more of the tips when I get home. Thanks for all the input! Laura

 

[Rock Jock]

Italy is a favorite destination. Love the wine and cuisine. And the history.
I think of what we do as pre-archaeology.

 

[Princess]

The spoon bowl is a fun find, and it's always nice when we can learn something more about the items we uncover! FMDF is a great place to research information and to interact with other detectorists. Thanks for joining us, Laura, and please continue to share your detecting adventures with us!

 

[Domoryder77]

I’ve found a almost identical spoon and it’s late 1800s early 1900s