Alvin Mfg. Co./Alvin-Beiderhase Co. made at least
three Black Americana souvenir spoons. The most commonly found spoon by the
company depicts the head of a Black boy on the finial. His curly black hair is
close-cropped to his head, his mouth is wide open exposing his teeth and he has
thick lips.
Black Boy on Finial
Alvin Mfg.
Co./Alvin-Beiderhase Co.
Detailed of Head of Black
Boy on Finial
This Alvin spoon must have been quite popular when it
was made if one is to judge by its frequent appearance on the antique market
today. As is the case with many Black Americana souvenir spoons, the image in
the bowl often has no relationship to the Black experience. A representative
example of images (embossed or engraved) in the bowl are the following:
Ø
Capitol. Richmond,
Va. [embossed view]
Ø
Tampa Bay Hotel,
Tampa Fla. [embossed view]
Ø
Old Point Comfort,
Va. [engraved name]
Ø
Black seated on oxcart
drawn by an ox [engraved] with "Dixie" + "Savannah, Ga."
Ø
Windsor Hotel,
Jacksonville, Fla. [embossed].
Windsor Hotel,
Jacksonville, Fla.