Infant feeding spoon
1955-2007
In the mid-1950’s Stieff introduced a Sterling Silver
Infant Feeding Spoon that was supposed to be superior to other feeding spoons on the market. A unique shape and the usual Stieff quality made it a popular item for those who wanted their baby to have a silver spoon in his or her mouth
as soon as possible.
Notice that the shape of the spoon would fit perfectly into a Gerber, Heinz or Beechnut baby food jar. Flat sizes, rounded edge to scrap the bottom of the jar and sides. Even the shoulder of the spoon is the shape of the inside top of the jar. So much easier than using a regular spoon.
“ROSE”
Many people do not know what the Infant Feeding Spoon is for... and so, In this day of ebay mass exposure and the desire to increase profit... the opportunity to make something exotic out of something “ordinary” abounds and that unto itself, would make P. T. Barnum proud.
I see the Infant Feeding Spoon listed on ebay under many different names, all inaccurate...
Horseradish Spoon
Cheese Scoop
Master Salt Spoon
Marrow Spoon
Mustard Spoon
Jelly Spoon
Here are various images of the spoons and ephemera relating to the spoons.
The insert that came with the spoons, explaining the benefits.
A spoon with the original box and insert.
This is the ROSE pattern. Adapted from the STIEFF ROSE pattern that Stieff had made since 1892. The patterning below the shield matches that of Stieff Rose, the top treatment is different.
Carrollton Pattern
The Plain Design
Stieff made the Infant Feeder in the above three designs.
Later LENOX KIRK-STIEFF would make the Infant Feeding Spoon in the additional patterns:
OLD MARYLAND PLAIN, REPOUSSÉ and
OLD MARYLAND ENGRAVED.
Here is how the spoons were packaged in later years. This piece is from the late 1980s
Even at this late date, new dies were not needed for the infant spoon and so the STIEFF name was still the only name on the back of the handle.
And lastly, here is the same spoon from the
LENOX Kirk Stieff Collection made in 2007
Note the top of the bag says LENOX with a small Kirk Stieff Collection underneath.
The actual date stamp on the bag days 5/10/07
In July 2007 Lenox would sell the Kirk-Stieff Brand to Lifetime Sterling
The owner of this piece tells me that the back stamp says
STERLING-STIEFF PAT.
Amazingly, It would appear that Lenox was still using the original dies
from 1955 to make these in 2007.
Stieff did not invent the spoon. They acquired the rights to it from the inventor Joe McCarthy and his wife Ann. The link below tells the story of the KEM infant spoon before it was brought into the House of Stieff.
