H69.133.12
Travelling set. Description: three - piece travelling utensil set with case; tag with set: "Travelling case with silver plated knife, fork and spoon. Joseph Seymour and Co. Syracuse New York, 1850" a. knife b. fork c. spoon d. case History: from the Oppenlander estate. From the History Information Station: Object: Flatware set, silver plate, mongrammed "EK." Made by Joseph Seymour & Co., Syracuse, New York, in 1850. History: Flatware sets, specially mongrammed and boxed, were a popular gift item in the 19th century and a California immigrant might have brought this one as a sentimental keepsake. But this would also come in handy on the ocean voyage to California, for no one could be sure what conditions they would find aboard the ship, or if there would be any clean eating utensils. Using such fancy silverware on the wind-tossed, six-month trip to California might also have made an immigrant feel a little less far away from the comforts of home. (Note from the "What They Brought" listing: states the set was in case lined with dark blue velvet)
Used: travel
