Spoon, from Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition, recovered by Dr John Rae

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This silver spoon is one of a collection of relics recovered from Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition of 1848-9. The relics were given to Dr John Rae by North American Inuits in 1854, who told Rae how Franklin's men had perished in the Arctic.

The end of the stem has an engraved crest of a fish head placed between two leafy twigs.

Although Rae was involved in the search for Franklin's team in 1848-9, it was during his trip in 1853-4 that he discovered the fate of the expedition. Franklin's men had died due to starvation, exposure and perhaps lead poisoning from food stored in tins.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-049-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.L.304.216
• Date: 1844 - 1845
  1844-5
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: G.A.
  Spoon
  
• Dimensions: 7.00" L
  
• What: Spoon
  
• Subject:
• Who: G. A., London (Maker)
  John Rae (Finder)
  Sir John Franklin (Owner)
  
• Where: Canada
  England, London
  
• Event: Franklin Expedition
  
• Description: Silver spoon which belonged to Sir John Franklin with an engraved crest of a fish head between leafy twigs: English, hallmarked London, 1844 - 1845, maker's mark G.A.
  
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