Maybe Molded Pewter Spoon/Ladle Piece - Help

[flinthunter]

Found this small piece of the top of a spoon or ladle handle the other day along a long unused early 1800's road in Central Illinois. It is close to an 1830's homestead site. This is completely out of my area of expertise so any information you can give me is appreciated. The handle piece is heavy for its size and has a small amount of rust showing but cleaned up with just water the way it looks in the picture. It is slightly magnetic (it is attracted to a magnet but not strongly). Pewter maybe - possible age? Thanks.
Daryl

 

[CRUSADER]

Early 19th C pewter spoon top

 

[CC Hunter]

Yes, you indeed have the broken end from a pewter spoon circa mid 1800's. Pewter, being an alloy of tin and lead, is non-magnetic. With pewter being a softer metal alloy, a long thin piece such as a spoon handle has poor strength qualities (hence the oft found broken examples, as we once again see here). To add strength to the handle portion of the spoon, a long thin piece of steel was positioned inside during the molding process. The ferrous oxide (rust), as well as magnetic attraction, is evidence of the thin steel rod center core.

CC Hunter

 

[Digger54]

Early Spandle

Early pewter Spandle.

Spandle = Spoon + handle.

Or it could be classified as a Partifact

 

[Daedalus]

Nothing like feeding the kids with a spoon that has lead in it.
Although they did not put much lead in at 1% and the other was copper mostly, or bismuth .

 

[flinthunter]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. This doesn't compare to most old relic finds but for an almost 200 year old artifact it means a lot to me. Maybe I will find the rest of it soon.
Daryl

 

[Chug And Red]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. This doesn't compare to most old relic finds but for an almost 200 year old artifact it means a lot to me. Maybe I will find the rest of it soon.
Daryl

That would be so cool, awesome find, WTG, and keep us posted on what you find!!!! Wouls love to see it cleaned up!!!! Red