Navajo silver spoon, Southwestern United States, c. 1890-1919

This hand-crafted Navajo silver spoon, originating from the Southwestern United States during the Fred Harvey era, represents a significant example of early 20th-century Native American silversmithing produced for the burgeoning tourist trade.

Measuring 4.2 inches in length and 0.9 inches in width, the spoon is crafted from silver, with a composition stated at 91.2% purity, and weighs 10.4 grams. The construction features a classic tapering handle paired with a rounded bowl, showcasing the subtle surface irregularities characteristic of traditional hand-forging techniques rather than industrial production. The spoon is decorated with hand-stamped motifs, including arrow designs and linear ornamentation, which reflect the adaptive artistry of Dine silversmiths responding to external market influences.

This particular object is of historical note, as it is featured on the cover of the reference volume, "Navajo Spoons: Indian Artistry and the Souvenir Trade, 1880-1940," by Cindra Kline, which accompanies this item. The pairing provides scholarly context for the spoon as both a functional object and a collector's souvenir of the period.