Tiffany & Co. 'Zodiac' Design Copper Prototype Demitasse Spoons Set , NYC, NY, c. 1926

'Zodiac' is an imaginative design produced by Tiffany. The full set of 12 coffee spoons includes all 12 zodiac signs depicted on the handles. After the original flatware dies were finished, Tiffany & Co. created copper prototypes like these. To ensure the quality of the dies remained up to company standards, silversmiths compared these prototypes to their sterling production. Copper was used for this purpose as it is more durable than silver. Because they were made from the original dies, these rare copper items bear the original sterling marks. These wonderful poons are marked 'TIFFANY & CO. STERLING PAT. 1926 m.' They measure just over 4 inches long and are in very good/ excellent antique condition, but being copper, they should not be used.