Wallace Sterling "Violet" Pattern Gold-Wash Salad Serving Spoon, 1904

A substantial Wallace Silver solid salad serving spoon in the Violet pattern, executed in sterling silver with a richly gilded bowl and a flowing Art Nouveau handle modeled in high relief with violet blossoms, foliate scrolls, and a vacant cartouche at the terminal. The shaped, scallop-edged bowl carries a warm gold wash — a treatment historically applied to berry, salad, and preserve spoons to protect the silver from acidic foods and to add visual contrast between handle and bowl. Marked on the reverse of the neck with the Wallace pictorial hallmark and STERLING. No monograms present.

Wallace introduced the Violet pattern in 1904, placing it squarely in the American Art Nouveau moment when naturalistic floral motifs and asymmetric organic line were at their height in domestic silversmithing. At nearly nine inches and over 70 grams, this spoon carries the heft and presence of a presentation-grade serving piece — the kind that anchored a formal sideboard service and made its way to the table only on occasion.

CONDITION

Good. No remarkable damage. Gold wash to the bowl shows expected wear and light surface scratches consistent with use; silver has developed a soft patina overall. We'll leave the polishing to you.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 8 7/8" L × 2 9/16" W × 1 1/2" D
• Wallace catalog length: 8 3/4"
• Bowl width (LBWL): 3 1/2"
• Weight: 70.7 grams
• Material: Sterling silver with gold-wash bowl
• Marks: Wallace pictorial hallmark, STERLING
• Pattern: Violet
• Introduced: 1904
• Monogram: None