Sterling Silver Three-Part Dressing Mirror, Gorham, circa 1900
About the Item
- Creator:Gorham Manufacturing Company (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 25 in (63.5 cm)Width: 11.75 in (29.85 cm)Depth: 8.75 in (22.23 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1900-1909
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1900
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
Gorham Manufacturing Company
For nearly 160 years, the Gorham Manufacturing Company turned out a wide range of beautiful silver flatware, tea sets, serving bowls and other silver pieces, indelibly influencing the field of decorative arts in ways that still resonate.
When silversmiths Jabez Gorham and Henry Webster started making coin silver teaspoons and jewelry out of a small workshop in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1831, the pair likely had no idea that their modest operation would one day become the largest silver manufacturer in the world.
While some name changes and personnel shifts preceded the foundry officially being established as Gorham Manufacturing Company decades later, growth of the business between its early days and the mid–19th century can largely be attributed to the work of Jabez’s son John, who assumed control of Gorham in the 1840s.
John Gorham introduced steam power at the manufactory. He entered into a partnership with Michael Gibney, the first American silversmith to register a design patent for a flatware pattern. Gorham wanted to expand the business, seeking to produce forks and spoons adorned with decorative flourishes adapted from British patterns. The company hammered out the silver flatware, which it sent to Gibney in New York to apply decorative patterns before returning to Gorham. Consequently, Gorham found Gibney’s work unsatisfactory, and he purchased his own rolling press to do the work himself.
The partnership between John and Michael soured but the company thrived. Sales grew to more than $20,000 per year, and the staff of silversmiths expanded. To keep up with demand, Gorham had to retire its horse-powered rolling press and import a steam-powered drop press from England — the first used in the United States. Designs created at Gorham drew on natural-world motifs as well as artistic traditions from all over the world — alongside its tableware, the company would soon be producing cups and pitchers adorned with polar bears and forest creatures, while tea services and other serving pieces were crafted in a range of styles that included Art Nouveau, Egyptian Revival and Rococo.
Around 1860, Gorham delved into bronze casting. When it opened a division dedicated to bronze work, Gorham collaborated with sculptors such as Daniel Chester French, Anna Hyatt Huntington and Alexander P. Proctor.
By the 1920s, Gorham had employed thousands of workers and had partnered with Danish modernist silversmith Erik Magnussen. However, the Great Depression ground production to a halt. The company was sold to Textron, Inc. in the late 1960s and it changed hands several times before it sold to Department 56 in 2005.
Today, the work of Gorham Manufacturing Company continues to be exhibited in galleries and museums. The RISD Museum in Providence houses a collection of nearly 5,000 works.
On 1stDibs, find a range of antique Gorham Manufacturing Company serveware and decorative objects.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Sterling Silver Table Mirror, circa 1900By Black, Starr & FrostLocated in New York, NYSterling silver table mirror, circa 1900. Marked Black, Starr and Frost.Category
Antique Early 1900s American Table Mirrors
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Table Mirror, circa 1900Located in New York, NYMarked sterling, maker: Fuchs and Beiderhase (New York, 1891-1896).Category
Antique Early 1900s American Table Mirrors
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Large Continental Silver Table Mirror, circa 1880Located in New York, NYLarge Continental silver table mirror, circa 1880.Category
Antique 1880s Table Mirrors
- Large Austrian Silver Table Mirror, circa 1860Located in New York, NYLarge Austrian silver table mirror, circa 1860.Category
Antique 1860s Austrian Table Mirrors
MaterialsBronze
- French Gilt Bronze Table Mirror, circa 1875Located in New York, NYFrench gilt bronze table mirror, circa 1875.Category
Antique 1870s Table Mirrors
MaterialsBronze
- Large Sterling Silver and Brilliant Glass Bowl, Gorham, circa 1900Located in New York, NYBrilliant cut glass with Gorham made in New York mark.Category
Antique Early 1900s American Decorative Bowls
MaterialsSterling Silver
- English Sterling Silver Winged Cherub Dressing Mirror, Circa 1770Located in Hollywood, SCEnglish sterling silver dressing mirror with centered floral cartouche, four flanking corner winged cherubs, scrolled floral decorative...Category
Antique 1770s English George III Table Mirrors
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Antique American "Tiffany & Co." Silvered Bronze Dressing Mirror, Circa 1900'sLocated in New Orleans, LAAntique American "Tiffany & Co." Silvered Bronze dressing mirror, Circa 1900's.Category
Early 20th Century American Table Mirrors
MaterialsSilver, Bronze
- Large Art Nouveau / Vienna Secession Silver plate Dressing Mirror circa 1900Located in Hudson, NYExceptional Antique art nouveau / Vienna secessionist dressing mirror. Silverplate with wood panel backing and easel stand. Maker or origination Marks to bottom. 22 1/4" high x 18" w...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Vienna Secession Table Mirrors
MaterialsSilver
- Silver Dressing MirrorBy BirminghamLocated in New York, NYClassic silver dressing table mirror in bowed oval shape with beveled glass, reed wrapped edge and large silver bow on top. Hallmarked: B...Category
Early 20th Century English Table Mirrors
MaterialsSilver
- Walnut Queen Anne Revival Dressing Mirror Circa 1900By Waring & GillowLocated in Dereham, GBWalnut Queen Anne Revival Dressing Mirror Circa 1900 Shaped Swing Mirror with Walnut Cross grained Moulded frame, Pair Square Supports with Turned acorn finials, Base with 3 small ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Queen Anne Table Mirrors
MaterialsWalnut
- English Three-Drawer Dressing MirrorLocated in Wilson, NCEnglish three-drawer dressing mirror is cross banded with bees wing satinwood, ebony, and boxwood, drawers with open fretwork brass pulls. The mirror has some deterioration due to ag...Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Table Mirrors
MaterialsBrass