WATERFALL SPOONS

The USA is blessed with some tremendous displays of nature's bounty. Waterfalls are one of those natural attractions that travelers in the 1890's loved to see. It is not so different today, the awesome majesty of water falling hundreds of feet is still a prime tourist draw. Most of the spoons in this exhibit have hand engraved pictures of these waterfalls in the bowls. An embossed picture is one made by machine (the same as used in coin making)

Unusual rock formations are also popular tourist destinations. Below the waterfalls I have some unusual rock formations that are associated with water. Unusual rock formations not associated with water are found under the park spoon exhibits.

One sport very popular today is taking rafting trips down fast flowing rivers. This is quite fun and I have done it myself twice, but today the large rubber rafts are unsinkable and are relatively safe to use. In the 1890's this was a dangerous activity and many participants were injured or killed. I have shown a few spoons relating to this activity at the bottom of the exhibit.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls was an extremely popular place for visitors since the 1880's when easy accessibility was established. As a spot for both vacationers and honeymooners, it is easily understandable why we find so many spoons from the falls. There are an estimated 2000 different varieties of Niagara Fall Spoons. But rest assured that I do not have that many and even if I did I wouldn't inflict that on my viewers.

Niagara Falls (emb)

Enameled American and Canadian Flags finial (emb)

This is one of my favorite spoons. The handle has the profile of an indian, and the face of the indian has been bronzed. The bowl is large shovel shaped and hand engraved with a view of Niagara Falls. Most of the spoon is gilded.

Cave of Wind, indian and cave bowl

three examples of hand engraved views of Niagara falls
(use the bar on the bottom to see the spoon handles)

Waterfalls

Gorham cast round bowl showing the falls Minne ha-ha outside Minneapolis, Minnesota

Embossed bowl of the Minne ha-ha falls. The handle on this spoon (not shown) is an interesting negative parcel gilt. The whole spoon is gilded, except for the courthouse and library buildings which are highlighted on the handle