5019

Steamship Georgia Serving Spoon, New York Silversmith, SS Central America Treasure [159938]

Currency:USD Category:Artifacts / Shipwreck Artifacts Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 500.00 USD
Steamship Georgia Serving Spoon, New York Silversmith, SS Central America Treasure [159938]
SOLD
1,050.00USD+ (210.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2023 Mar 05 @ 14:36UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Large spoon, silver plate, 8 5/8", J & I Cox, a New York silversmith's mark, "Georgia" on the handle. The silver plate is slightly peeling. The SS Georgia was launched about January, 1850 and was a member of George Law's US Mail Steamship line. Originally, the ship worked the East coast then expanded to Latin America for connecting ventures to and from California. In September, 1853, the SS Georgia hit a storm every bit as rough as the storm that sank the SS Central America. The ship had huge waves crashing over the entire deck and the ship was thrown hither and yawn in rough seas. The ship sprang a leak they couldn't find and fix (like the SSCA), and the boiler and engine rooms soon filled with water and the ship was made helpless. Passengers panicked, but the storm subsided and forms of rescue were enacted. No lives were lost. The ship may have gone into dry dock after the storm and come out with a new name, as the SS George Law did and became the SS Central America.
Purser Edward Hull was purser for the SS Georgia during the 1852-1853 period, but it is unknown if he was on the Georgia when it floundered. It appears that the September 1853 trip was one of the last for the SS Georgia. Hull may have kept this spoon from his service period on the Georgia.
This spoon is marked J & I Cox, who was a well established New York silversmith. Similar to the SS Ohio spoon in this sale, this spoon was probably salvaged by either purser Hull or the George Law company and sent to the SS Central America for reuse.

Provenance: SS Central America Collection