Gorham Manufacturing Co. Gorham’s was founded by Jabez Gorham and Henry L Webster in 1831. The company was based in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1842 the company was succeeded by Jabez Gorham’s son, John Gorham where he proceeded to improve and expand the designs. Gorham’s employed master craftsmen including George Wilkinson, an English designer. From 1850 until 1940 Gorham’s was highly influential and in 1865 they traded as Gorham Manufacturing Company. Gorham’s silver has been used in the White House for many Administrations and in 1859, Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln, purchased an extremely impressive tea and flatware service which was to be used in the White House. This was presented to the National Museum of American History in 1967. More recently, the George W Bush family have used the Gorham’s Chantilly Pattern flatware service aboard Air Force One.
Gorham Silver Makers Mark circa 1858
An American sterling silver flatware service by Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, RI, 20th century Buttercup Pattern, comprising: 12 dinner forks, 12 dinner knives, 12 salad forks, six soup spoons, six teaspoons, 14 demitasse spoons, 14 cocktail forks, 7 serving pieces; total weighable silver approximately 99oz troy.
Sold for US$ 1,500 (£ 1,170) inc. premium at Bonhams in 2018
Gorham Silver Compote. Circular stepped foot engraved with band of Native American-style chevrons and band of native scene in style of native narrative depicting warriors, horse, fallen man, two women with skulls. Above the base on a circular platform is a crouching figure of an Indian maiden in patterned tunic with arms upraised to support shallow circular compote bowl with molded rim and gilt interior; in the center of the bowl is a stylized circular engraved design. Compote bowl attached to stem at disc above the head of the figure, screwed on with three beaded screws with flattened bell finials. CONDITION: Overall good but with normal wear, especially to bowl. Numerous scratches on interior of bowl, gilding worn. Numerous pinpoint dents from outside bowl towards interior.
Reference: The Brooklyn Museum
AN AMERICAN SILVER WATER PITCHER MARK OF GORHAM MFG. CO., PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1903 Tapered, shaped oval form, marked to underside, retailed by Shreve, Crump & Low Co. 11 ¾ in. (29.8 cm.) high 41 oz. (1,275 gr.)
Sold for USD 875 at Christies in 2018
Pair of Gorham Sterling Silver Flower-Form Vases Circa 1897 Height 10 1/4 inches, total approximately 21 ounces.
Sold for $468 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle New York in 2018
Gorham Sterling Revere Bowl
American, 1949. A sterling silver Revere bowl by Gorham, marked and with model no. 41660; ht. 4.5, dia. 9 in., total wt. 24.84ozt (772.5g).
Sold for $275 at Cowan’s Auctions, Inc. in 2019
Ewer and Plateau Maker: Gorham Manufacturing Company (American, 1831–present) Retailer: Spaulding and Company Date: 1901
“Martelé” was a term applied to a line of art silver introduced in 1900 by Gorham. It was considered the finest expression of the Art Nouveau style in America. The ewer and plateau, hand-hammered into undulating forms and decorated in repoussé with swirling waves, plants, and female figures, are particularly successful examples of Martelé silver.
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Goblet about 1858 Gorham & Company (active 1852–1865), John Gorham (American, 1820–1898)
Four oval panels divide the tulip-shaped bowl into quarters; two panels are embellished with repousséd and chased swags of pomegranates and leaves; one contains reserves carrying the inscription. Applied half-round and beaded bands encircle the rim. The waisted stem flares out to a stepped base. By 1850 the ambitious and innovative John Gorham wished to expand the family operation from spoons and other small goods to include hollowware of the best quality and in the newest styles. To provide extra capital for machinery and skilled labor, he invited his cousins Gorham Thurber and Lewis Dexter Jr. to become partners in Gorham & Company. In this pivotal decade, the firm’s sales increased fourteen-fold, from $29,000 in 1850 to $397,000 in 1859. The number of employees ballooned from fourteen to two hundred. By the end of the 1860s, with employees doubled and revenues almost tripled, Gorham was the largest fine silverware producer in the world. This richly textured goblet may have been presented to Ophelia Annie Smith of Cambridge on her wedding engagement to Atty. Samuel Snow, son of Caleb Hopkins Snow, M.D. (1796 – 1835), author of A History of Boston, the Metropolis of Massachusetts (Boston: Abel Bowen, 1828).
Reference: Museum of Fine Arts Boston
A PAIR OF AMERICAN SILVER FOUR-LIGHT CANDELABRA, GORHAM MFG. CO., PROVIDENCE, RI, 1901 weighted height 13 1/4 in. 34.2 cm
Sold for 1,500 USD at Sothebys in 2018
