English Silver Toast Rack by Gorham Manufacturing Co., Birmingham, 1919
About the Item
- Creator:Gorham Manufacturing Company (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 4.34 in (11 cm)Width: 2.76 in (7 cm)Depth: 4.34 in (11 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1919
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Delft, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: M8171stDibs: LU3465123167922
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: Delft, Netherlands
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- English Silver Butter Knifes by Maxfield & Sons Ltd, Sheffield 1913By Maxfield & Sons Ltd. 1Located in Delft, NLEnglish Silver butter knifes by Maxfield & Sons Ltd, Sheffield 1913 Maxfield & Sons Ltd, Sheffield England ( 1909-1921) butter knifes with shell...Category
Early 20th Century English Tableware
MaterialsSilver
- Dutch Oval Silver Tray by W. Brehm, 1920Located in Delft, NLDutch oval silver tray by W. Brehm, 1920. An oval silver tray with raised edge, decorated and openwork with leaf motif and on the edge with pearl ...Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Serving Pieces
MaterialsSilver
- Dutch Silver Dessert Set by Gerritsen, 1907Located in Delft, NLDutch silver dessert set by Gerritsen, 1907 A set of 12 Dutch silver dessert spoons and a Silver large serving spoon with twisted and oval shape...Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Serving Pieces
MaterialsSilver
- 12 Dutch Silver Pickle forks by Gerritsen, 1906Located in Delft, NL12 Dutch Silver pickle forks by Gerritsen, 1906 A set of 12 Dutch silver sour forks with twisted stem with bulb in box (stain in the fabric). Dutch si...Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Serving Pieces
MaterialsSilver
- Silver Tray with Wooden Melamine by H. Hooijkaas, 1974By Herman HooijkaasLocated in Delft, NLSilver tray with wooden melamine by H. Hooijkaas, 1974 A Dutch silver tray by H. Hooijkaas, Schoonhoven silver factory, Schoonhoven. Worked during 1946 - present. An 8-sided recta...Category
20th Century Dutch Serving Pieces
MaterialsSilver
- Dutch Blue Crystal Mustard Pot with Silver Mount by Jan Van Der Cop, 1833Located in Delft, NLDutch Blue crystal mustard pot with silver mount by Jan can der Cop, 1833 A silver mustard pot with a blue crystal pot and a silver gilt spoon. A...Category
Antique 19th Century Dutch Serving Pieces
MaterialsCrystal, Silver
- Edwardian English Sterling Silver Toasting Fork or Meat Serving Fork London 1909By George Jackson & David FullertonLocated in London, LondonHallmarked in London in 1909 by Jackson & Fullerton, this attractive, Edwardian, Antique Sterling Silver Toasting Fork, features wonderfully engraved decoration throughout including ...Category
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Serving Pieces
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Naturalistic Antique Sterling Silver Toast Rack - Leaf Design - Birmingham 1898By Norton & WhiteLocated in London, LondonHallmarked in Birmingham in 1898 by Norton & White, this charming, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver Toast Rack, will hold 2 pieces of toast, and is...Category
Antique 1890s English Victorian Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Gilt Olive Straining Spoon by Gorham Manufacturing CompanyBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon TyneAn exceptional, fine and impressive antique American cast sterling silver gilt olive straining spoon made by Gorham Manufacturing Company; an addition to our silver teaware collection, This exceptional antique American cast Gorham silver spoon...Category
Antique 1880s American Tableware
MaterialsSilver, Sterling Silver
- Antique Sterling Silver Set of 6 Napkin Rings by Gorham Manufacturing Co.Located in Braintree, GBAntique sterling silver set of 6 napkin rings, decorated and engraved with wreaths and ribbons, with numbers at the centre from 1 to 6. ...Category
Vintage 1910s British Tableware
MaterialsSilver
- Antique English Silver Plated Toast Rack c 1890-1900Located in New Orleans, LAAntique English Silver Plated Toast Rack c 1890-1900Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Tableware
MaterialsSilver Plate
- Antique English White Ironstone Toast RackLocated in Pearland, TXA lovely antique English white ironstone six slice toast rack, circa 1910. This beautiful toast rack has lovely gilt accents, beaded edge, and scalloped design. It would be wonderful...Category
Early 20th Century English Serving Pieces
MaterialsIronstone