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.
Sterling Silver Pedestal-Based Gorham Centerpiece - Chantilly Pattern
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful, Victorian - style, sterling silver, pedestal-based centerpiece, Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, Rhode Island, Ca. 1940's. The pattern of the centerpiece is Gorham's Chantilly...
Sterling Silver
Gorham Florenz Sterling Silver Centerpiece Flower Bowl, 1924
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Florenz sterling silver centerpiece bowl. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1924. Deep and tapering well and wide turned-down rim with chased Quattrocento grotesque ornament, including...
Sterling Silver
Modernist Bowl by Donald Colflesh for Gorham
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful Gorham bowl with gold colored exterior and black enamel interior. Designed buy Donald Colflesh for Gorham.
Brass, Enamel
HP Sinclaire Engraved Glass Centerpiece Bowl with Gorham Sterling Repousse Base
By Gorham Manufacturing Company, H.P. Sinclaire & Company
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This antique ABP H.P. Sinclaire and Company wheel cut-glass centerpiece bowl has a floral motif and rests on a domed Gorham sterling silver base. The bowl features an ornate engraved pattern consisting of large roses in bloom which are located along intertwined thorny stems studded with clusters of serrated leaves. The domed sterling base echoes the rose motif found on the bowl and is decorated with repoussé...
Sterling Silver
$21,000 / set
Five Piece Sterling and Crystal Suite
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is by far our most unique offering. We are so happy to present a pair of large vases, centerpiece bowl and a pair of candlesticks. An incredible five-piece suite. Made (and s...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
20th Century Sterling Silver Italian Entree with Dish
By Arval Argenti Valenza
Located in VALENZA, IT
Elegant hand made sterling silver entree with dish The welded edge with Reed & Ribbon characterizes the Classic Luis XVI style. The Louis XVI-era Reed & Ribbon collection features ...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Art Deco Centerpiece Bowl 636, 1931
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
An early Georg Jensen sterling silver Art Deco centerpiece bowl, design #636 by Harald Nielsen in 1931. This impressive hand-crafted oval bowl rests on an elegant oval Pyramid patter...
Sterling Silver
Signed Sinclaire Wheel Cut Engraved 14" Vase
By H.P. Sinclaire & Company
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This large 14" tall, hand blown crystal vase was a custom order for someone special! Monogrammed and signed on the base, it is all-over decorated with copper wheel engraved ivy leave...
Crystal
$1,032Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.17 in W 13.78 in D 10.63 in
"Tremiti" Bowl by Angelo Mangiarotti for Danese, Italy, 1960s
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Danese Milano
Located in Berlin, DE
High glazed orange ceramic bowl by Angelo Mangiarotti for Danese, Italy from the late 1960s.
Ceramic
XXI Century Italian Sterling Silver Centerpiece
By Ferrari silversmith
Located in VALENZA, IT
Round pierced centerpiece on feet made entirely by hand. The outline of the centerpiece was hand-pierced with a scroll pattern and finished with a border made with the casting techni...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Gilded Sterling Bamboo Pattern Centerpiece
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, Sterling, by Tiffany & Co., American. This Tiffany & Co. gilded sterling centerpiece will perfectly complement contemporary or traditional interiors. Its bamboo motif offers elegant visuals, and the generous size and useful form allows duality of function. It can join your silver service at the table or decorate a fashionable moment in your living space. Finely made in sterling silver, larger hollowware in Bamboo pattern...
Sterling Silver
Antique Edwardian English Sterling Silver Monteith Bowl
By Daniel & John Wellby
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver Monteith bowl; an addition to our range of collectable silverware. This magnificent antique Edwardian sterling silver bowl has a large Monteith form onto a spreading foot. The body of this antique Edwardian monteith bowl is ornamented with exceptional panels of flat engraved decoration, incorporating dynamic chinoiserie characters amongst foliate and towering structures; it can be determined that such a frieze of figures relates to a historical event or folklore. Each panel is segmented with concave fluted pales to a matte textured plateau. The decoration to the body incorporates a leaf bordered cartouche to one side, displaying a contemporary bright cut engraved coat of arms, all above the motto 'Vix Ea Nostra Voco' - I scarce call these deeds of our ancestors ours*. These heraldic markings are surmounted with the contemporary bright cut engraved crest of on a mount, a hind lodged in front of a hawthorn-tree, ducally gorged and chained*. This exceptional example of antique silverware is fitted with two cast and applied handles, each fashioned in the form of lion's masks grasping a hallmarked drop-ring handle. The detachable shaped rim of this antique Monteith bowl...
Silver
Sold|$1,900
H 6.69 in W 16.13 in D 13.57 in
Art Deco Modernist Silver Plate Decorative Bowl Centerpiece, circa 1930
By Francois Frionnet
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning Art Deco polished silver plate pedestal bowl, centerpiece, or serving bowl was designed by Silversmith Francois Frionnet, Paris, circa 1930. The modernist design, featu...
Metal, Silver Plate
Set of 12 Gorham Chantilly Sterling Silver Goblets
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Twelve Chantilly sterling silver goblets. Made by Gorham in Providence. Each: Baluster bowl and stem on domed foot. Bowl has embossed leafing-scroll frames (vacant) surround by scrol...
Sterling Silver
Murano Purple Art Glass Centerpiece Bowl with Applied Clear Glass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Murano glass centerpiece vase in purple and filigree clear glass rim, Italy, 1950s. Stunning blown glass purple centerpiece with faceted body and h...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Glass
$1,850
H 3.5 in W 12 in D 10.5 in
Wonderful Large Belle Époque 800 Sterling Silver Oval Centerpiece Flower Bowl
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful large belle époque 800 European sterling silver oval centerpiece flower bowl.
Sterling Silver
$614,714
H 13.98 in W 59.06 in D 20.48 in
Art Nouveau Silver, Crystal, and Pate De Verre Table Centrepiece by Falize
By Falize Frères
Located in London, GB
Art Nouveau silver, crystal, and pate de verre table centrepiece by Falize, French, 1902 Measures: Height 35.5cm, width 150cm, depth 52cm This...
Crystal, Silver
$3,419
H 4.34 in W 11.42 in D 8.67 in
Flavio Poli Large Bowl Centerpiece Murano Glass for Seguso, 1960
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful Flavio Poli bowl centerpiece for Seguso Vetri D'Arte made in the 1960s from the Sommerso collection. This large bowl has eye-catching sunset colors, with pink glass submerg...
Glass
Jona Sterling Silver "Sacco" Fruit Basket
By Jona
Located in Torino, IT
Jona design collection, handcrafted in Italy, 925/ sterling silver "sacco" fruit basket. Weight: 454 gr. All of our silver is new and has never been previously owned.
Sterling Silver
$433
H 3.94 in W 9.45 in D 10.63 in
Vintage Murano Glass Centerpiece with Silver Plate Base, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Murano glass centerpiece is a beautiful glass decorative object, realized by Murano manufacture during the 1970s. This elegant, hand blown glass.The wide traditional cent...
Murano Glass
Beautiful Victorian-Style Sterling Silver Centerpiece Bowl By Gorham
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful, Victorian-Style (made in the Edwardian Period), centerpiece bowl (possible Old Chantilly), Gorham Manufacturing Company, Providence,m for 1905. Floral, swirled border, f...
Sterling Silver
Antique Gorham Gilded Age Boar’s Head Loving Cup Trophy Bowl
By Gorham Manufacturing Company, Bigelow Kennard & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Gilded Age sterling silver loving cup. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1890. Round and tapering bowl with 3 handles leaf-mounted to bowl and knop. Flared...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Mid-Century Punch Bowl
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We are proud to offer you this sterling silver punch bowl by Gorham Silversmiths of Providence, Rhode Island dated 1953. Simply put, it’s HUGE! Elegant and chic it’s the epitome of M...
Sterling Silver
Neoclassical Sterling Silver Gilt Centrepiece by Gorham
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical, sterling silver gilt centrepiece, Gorham Manufacturing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1865. Dish is oval in form and has pe...
Sterling Silver, Gold
Art Deco Jensen-Style Sterling Silver Centerpiece Bowl by Gorham
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco, Jensen-Style, sterling silver centerpiece bowl, Gorham Manufacturing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, year-hallmarked for 1954. Bowl is hammered in design. Measures 9 5/8 inc...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 9.5 in W 13 in D 8 in
Sterling and Cut Crystal Centrepiece or Epergne, Three-Arm with Centre Bowl
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant centrepiece from one of America's storied silversmith's: Gorham. This classic piece features cut crystal bowls which nestle on top of hand chased metal arms. An unique bas...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Sterling and Crystal Epergne
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Centerpiece consisting of a central bowl and several small bowls to serve fruit and sweets. This epergne is a mix between "old world" and modern; the cut-glass is fancy while the sil...
Crystal, Sterling Silver