Seal Rocks - San Francisco. This souvenir spoon is 5 inches in length, with a bright cut image of Cliff House perched high on its cliff overlooking the Seal Rocks below. The enameled pattern handle complements the grace of this beautiful spoon. (The handle is ever so-slightly bent downward in the middle - but not enought to detract from the quality and beauty of the spoon). Marked STERLING; no maker's mark.

The first Cliff House was completed in 1863; originally a hotel, it was visited by presidents, San Francisco's most affluent families (e.g. the Hearsts and Stanfords). The first Cliff House was destroyed by fire in 1894. It was replaced by a very orante Victorian building which was equally as popular. The second Cliff House (represented on this spoon) featured eight stories of galleries and dining rooms and an observation tower that rose 200 feet above the level of the sea. The building was destroyed by fire in 1907. One of the great attractions at Cliff House was to watch and to hear the seals frolicking around on the rocks below — named Seal Rocks. For almost ten months of the year, the young sea lions would congregate her, sun themselves on the rocks, play in the surf and bark boisterously throughout the day and night. Today, the seals have abandoned the Seal Rocks below Cliff House in favor of Fisherman's Wharfe at Pier 39.

This beautiful spoon is a vivid reminder of those wonderful Victorian days when Cliff House and Seal Rocks were the place to be and to be seen.

Price: $65.00 (plus shipping/postage/insurance)
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