What is the history of Gorham Silver?
Gorham Silver was founded in 1831 by Jabez Gorham in partnership with Henry L. Webster. William C. Codman, one of Gorham's most noted designers, created the Chantilly design in 1895, which has become the most famous of Gorham's flatware patterns. The company has produced matching holloware in both sterling and silverplate.
What is a Gorham Silver Spoon?
Gorham Silver was founded in Providence, Rhode Island, 1831 by Jabez Gorham, a master craftsman, in partnership with Henry L. Webster. The firm's chief product was spoons of coin silver. The company also made thimbles, combs, jewelry, and other small items.
How do you identify Gorham sterling silver?
Let’s dive further into the Gorham sterling silver identification over the years… Being able to identify a piece of sterling silver, whether it is a silver plate mark or a tea set, as a Gorham piece is fairly simple thanks to the consistent silver markings that were used during the manufacturing of the pieces.
What does the letter a mean on Gorham Silver?
A Gorham silver mark featuring the letter “A.” By 1868, additions to existing Gorham silver marks were necessary thanks to the company’s adoption of sterling silver wares. As such, each year of production between 1868 and 1884 was noted with a capital letter. 1885–1933
Is Gorham silverware real silver?
While Jabez Gorham and Henry Webster produced the first pieces from coin-silver in 1831, some people choose to concentrate on the period after designer William J. Codman joined the company in 1891. Most of those pieces were made from sterling silver.
Is Gorham silver still being made?
A new show at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, in Providence, reveals why the various and sundry creations of the Gorham Manufacturing Company still shine.
When did Gorham go out of business?
The Gorham Manufacturing complex included over 30 buildings over a 37 acres in the Elmwood neighborhood of Providence. The site, located between Mashapaug Pond and Adelaide Avenue in an area called Reservoir Triangle, began operation in 1890 and closed in 1986.
Did Lenox buy Gorham?
The company has changed hands several times throughout its history. Today, it is owned by the Lenox Corporation and called the Gorham Manufacturing Company.
How is Gorham silver marked?
Early Gorham Silver Marks The earliest mark seen on Gorham pieces is that which features an anchor flanked by both a lion and a letter “G”. This straightforward mark was used for the first twenty years of Gorham's production with little modification.
How do you date Gorham silver flatware?
In 1940, Gorham silver marks began changing every decade to include the year inscribed within a polygon, which had the same number of sides as the decade itself. For instance, if a piece was from 1945, its mark would feature the number “5” inscribed within a four-sided shape to reflect the 1940 decade.
How do I identify Gorham sterling silver?
In 1848, Gorham silver marks consisted of a lion, anchor, and the letter “G.” Then, from 1848 through about 1860, the lion marking faced left, but instead of their previous direction, facing right. Sterling tea sets and some other hollowware items manufactured by Gorham, were assigned numbers in a decimal sequence.
Is Gorham sterling still in business?
The end came in 1967 when Textron purchased the Gorham Manufacturing Company. Gorham ceased operating as an independent business and the new owners started reducing the quality of Gorham's traditionally high-end products in an attempt to regain marketshare, an attempt that was ultimately unsuccessful.
How do you clean Gorham sterling?
0:271:33How to Clean Sterling Silver Effortlessly - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipClean pieces with crevasses and designs with a toothbrush. And toothpaste before placing in the dishMoreClean pieces with crevasses and designs with a toothbrush. And toothpaste before placing in the dish. Step 3 sprinkle one heaping tablespoon of baking soda evenly over the silver.
What is the most popular sterling silver pattern?
The Most Popular Silver PatternsGrand Baroque. by Wallace. It was first created in 1941 and is still active today.Chantilly. by Gorham. ... Old Master. by Towle. ... Prelude. by International. ... Rose Point. by Wallace. ... Repousse. by Kirk Stieff. ... Francis I. by Reed and Barton. ... Royal Danish. by International.More items...•
When was Gorham Chantilly made?
1895First made in 1895, Chantilly is the most popular sterling silverware pattern of the 20th Century, and has a wide variety of pieces available.
What is Gorham silver?
Among the most turned-to American makers is Gorham silver, a name made famous by landmark commissions for Presidential families, major awards, and other prominent projects. But beyond the company’s special commissions, Gorham’s prolific production of tea sets, serving trays, candelabra, napkin rings, silverware and more remain one ...
Where was Gorham Silver made?
The History of Gorham Silver. The U.S.-based Gorham Manufacturing Company first opened its doors in 1831 in Providence, Rhode Island, under the management of co-founders Jabez Gorham and Henry Webster. The intrepid duo had hoped to build a business creating smaller wares such as buttons and combs. In the late-1840s, however, when Jabez handed ...
What is the mark on Gorham?
The earliest mark seen on Gorham pieces is that which features an anchor flanked by both a lion and a letter “G”. This straightforward mark was used for the first twenty years of Gorham’s production with little modification.
How much is Gorham silver tea?
American silver tea and coffee service, Gorham. Sold for $1,500 via Charlton Hall (September 2019). Part of the motivation for this production move stemmed from new taxes that made the import of major European silver makers’ works into the United States much more costly.
When did Gorham start making silver?
Also contributing to Gorham’s growth was the introduction of both plated silver and holloware pieces by the late 1860s. During the 1890s , Gorham created some of what would become their most beloved patterns.
When was the letter A in Gorham silver?
1868–1884. A Gorham silver mark featuring the letter “A.”. By 1868, additions to existing Gorham silver marks were necessary thanks to the company’s adoption of sterling silver wares. As such, each year of production between 1868 and 1884 was noted with a capital letter.
What was the rise and fall of Gorham Manufacturing?
The Rise and Fall of Gorham Manufacturing. The result was the exponential growth of Gorham’s popularity , spurred by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln’s commission of a silver set for the White House in 1859. Also contributing to Gorham’s growth was the introduction of both plated silver and holloware pieces by the late 1860s.
What is Gorham silver flatware?
Gorham stainless flatware patterns tend to have a cleaner, sleeker look with a smooth finish and minimal stylistic touches. Meanwhile, Gorham sterling silver flatware patterns feature a variety of antique scrollwork that gives it a more ornate touch. Gorham flatware got its start in 1831, when metalsmith Jabez Gorham began making coin silver ...
When did Gorham silverware start?
Gorham flatware got its start in 1831, when metalsmith Jabez Gorham began making coin silver spoons, which quickly replaced the traditional pewter. When he passed the business down to his son in 1848, it soon expanded its offering, eventually becoming one of the largest silver manufacturers in the world. To this day, Gorham is still an industry ...
Who bought Gorham?
Textron began planning to sell the unit in 1988, completing the sale in 1989 to Dansk International Designs. Brown-Forman Corporation acquired Gorham from Dansk in 1991. The unit was sold in 2005 to Department 56 in the Lenox holdings transaction, with the resulting company renamed as Lenox Group.
When did Textron buy Gorham?
Textron purchased the company in 1967, a move that some critics claim decreased quality due to management's lack of understanding of Gorham's specialty, producing high-quality sterling silverware and holloware. Textron began planning to sell the unit in 1988, completing the sale in 1989 to Dansk International Designs.
What was the chief product of Jabez Gorham?
The firm's chief product was spoons of coin silver. The company also made thimbles, combs, jewelry, and other small items. In 1842, the Congress enacted a tariff which effectively blocked the importation of silverware from outside the United States, which aided the American silver industry. Jabez Gorham did not take full advantage ...
What did Gorham artisans make?
Gorham artisans also sculpted the famous monument of George Washington in the Capitol 's Rotunda, the statue of Theodore Roosevelt that overlooks the Museum of Natural History in New York, and the famous Independent Man which tops the Rhode Island State House .
Where is the Rhode Island flatware service?
It is now on display in the State Room of the Rhode Island State House. The George W. Bush family chose Gorham's Chantilly as the flatware service on Air Force One .
Where did Kerr and Co. store?
In 1884, the company opened a store in the Ladies' Mile shopping district in Manhattan, New York City , but moved in 1905 to a Fifth Avenue building which it commissioned from architect Stanford White. In 1906, Gorham purchased another long-time rival, New Jersey-based Kerr & Co.
Who was the head of the silver industry in 1847?
Jabez Gorham did not take full advantage of this opportunity, but in 1847 Jabez retired and his son, John Gorham succeeded him as head of the company. John Gorham introduced mechanized production methods, enlarged the premises in downtown Providence, improved the designs, and expanded the product line. In 1852, Gorham toured many of Europe's silver ...
What is Gorham Silver?
Knowing when you have Gorham Silver – The Gorham Manufacturing Company is one of America’s largest manufacturers of silver-plate and sterling pieces, along with a foundry for bronze sculpture. Gorham got it’s start in 1831 ...
When did Gorham silver come out?
In 1863 , Gorham was a major player in plated silver. In 1868, they had made the switch from coin silver for sterling silver and produced everything from knives, forks and spoons, to other desired pieces such as coffee pots and serving bowls.
What is the hallmark on a Gorham silver?
Hallmarks on the silver pieces were not consistent in the first few years. In 1848, Gorham silver marks consisted of a lion, anchor, and the letter “ G .”. Then, from 1848 through about 1860, the lion marking faced left, but instead of their previous direction, facing right.
Where did Gorham silver start?
The two founded the silver company in Gorham’s hometown of Providence, Rhode Island. Their beginning was as a manufacturer of coin-silver flatware in which Gorham started to gain acclaim, especially in 1859 once the flatware was selected by Mary Todd Lincoln for ...
When did Gorham use the sterling standard?
When it came to dating the pieces by the year, Gorham embraced the sterling standard in 1868 and marks for each year were added. Pieces created between 868 and 1884 were marked with capital letters. Then, from 1885 to 1933, icons were used, such as a wolf head or a parachute.
How many years did Gorham make decades?
Following a six-year gap, Gorham made decades identifiable by a polygon, with the number of sides on the polygon representing the decade that it was — four for the 1940s, five for the ’50s and so on, and labeled with a specific number inside the polygon for the actual year.