Antique Gorham Mythologique Sterling Silver Dinner & Luncheon Set
View Similar Items
Antique Gorham Mythologique Sterling Silver Dinner & Luncheon Set
About the Item
- Creator:F. Antoine Heller (Designer),Gorham Manufacturing Company (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 14.75 in (37.47 cm)Depth: 11.38 in (28.91 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 162
- Style:Beaux Arts (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 20th Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: BX9031stDibs: LU898034395282
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.
- Antique Gorham Bird’s Nest Sterling Silver Egg SpoonBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in New York, NYBird’s Nest sterling silver egg spoon. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1880. Leafing twig stem and nest terminal lain with 3 eggs. Bowl elongated ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Antique Gorham Imperial Chrysanthemum Sterling Silver Soup LadleBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in New York, NYImperial Chrysanthemum sterling silver soup ladle. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1900. Tapering stem with waisted terminal and lobed round bowl. Dense ornament with flowers and le...Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Japonisme Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Antique Gorham Aesthetic Sterling Silver Olive Spoon with PickBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in New York, NYAesthetic sterling silver olive spoon. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1885. Cast stem with entwined leaf and olive. Shallow and pierced bowl with engraved leaves. At other end pick...Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Tiffany Chrysanthemum Sterling Silver Dinner Set with 145 PiecesBy Tiffany & Co.Located in New York, NYChrysanthemum sterling silver dinner set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, circa 1890. This set comprises 145 pieces (dimensions in inche...Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Japonisme Sterling Silver
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Mario Buccellati Grande Imperiale Sterling Silver Dinner Set for 8By Buccellati, Mario BuccellatiLocated in New York, NYGrande Imperiale sterling silver dinner set. Made by Mario Buccellati in Italy. This set comprises 48 pieces (dimensions in inches): Forks: 8 dinner forks (8 5/8) and 8 salad forks ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Buccellati Grande Imperiale Sterling Silver Dinner & Lunch Set for 16By BuccellatiLocated in New York, NYGrande Imperiale sterling silver dinner and lunch set. Made by Buccellati in Italy. This set comprises 216 pieces: Forks: 16 dinner forks (8 3/4) 16 lunch...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Sterling Silver
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Cluny by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set Dinner & Luncheon Service, 153 PcsBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in Big Bend, WICluny by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 153 pieces. This set includes: 12 dinner size knives, 10 1/4", 24 dinner size forks, 7 5/8", 12 regular knives, 8 1/2", 24 regular forks, 6 3/4", 12 salad/fish forks, 6 3/4", 12 teaspoons, 6", 12 gumbo soup spoons, 6 3/4", 12 place soup spoons, 6 5/8", 12 tea knives, all-sterling, 8 3/8", ten pastry forks, 5 7/8", six serving spoons, 8 1/4", one flat handle master butter knife, 7 7/8", one vegetable serving set, 8 3/4", one pie server, bright-cut, 9 1/4", one claret ladle...Category
20th Century Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Camellia by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service Luncheon 32 PiecesBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in Big Bend, WICamellia by Gorham sterling silver Flatware set 32 Pieces. This set includes: Eight knives, 8 3/4". Eight forks, 7 3/8". Eight salad forks, 6 1/2"....Category
Mid-20th Century Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Camellia by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 6 Service Luncheon 24 PiecesBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in Big Bend, WICamellia by Gorham sterling silver flatware set of 24 pieces. Great starter set! This set includes: Six knives, 8 3/4". Six forks, 7 3/8". Six sala...Category
Mid-20th Century Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service Luncheon 78 PiecesBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in Big Bend, WIEight knives 8 7/8", eight forks 7", eight salad forks 6 3/8", eight teaspoons 5 3/4", eight cream soup spoons 6 1/8", eight flat handle butter spreaders 5 7/8", eight cocktail f...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service Luncheon, 32 PiecesBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in Big Bend, WIThis set includes: Eight knives (modern blade) 8 7/8" Eight forks, 7" Eight salad forks, 6 1/2" Eight teaspoons, 5 3/4" Includes bonus brand new storage chest - styles vary. Excel...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Camellia by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service Luncheon 49 PcsBy Gorham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in Big Bend, WICamellia by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 49 pieces. This set includes: Eight knives, 8 3/4". Eight forks, 7 1/8". Eight salad forks, 6 1/2"...Category
Vintage 1940s Sterling Silver
MaterialsSterling Silver