This sterling silver serving spoon is 9" long and heavy. The pattern is Gorham's Florentine. This is an expressive design that features a Renaissance style bearded figure at the end of the handle. This is an old example, with decorated flanged shoulders on the bowl. It has a script "EWK" monogram and is in outstanding condition. The bowl is free of dings, burrs, or dents, and retains part of its original gold wash. The form is flawless, and the finish finely patinated...

At 8" long, this is a large master butter knife. The pattern is Gorham's early 1870's "Corinthian." This is a handsome example, with fine detailing, including an engraved blade. There is an elegant, period monogram (EK?). The condition is excellent. The blade is even, and free of bends, nicks, or burrs. The finish is nicely patinated. Marks are lion, anchor, G, Sterling, Pat. 71, and the name of the retailer. This is rubbed, but appears to be Robbxxxx.

Made by Gorham as a non-line item, and assigned the model number 389, this design is similar to a variety of twist stem and knob end designs of the mid 1860's. According to the Gorham archives, however, this 8 7/8" long berry spoon was produced in the 1880's. It is an attractive and innovative item. The stem is twisted about half its length, and then is tubular in form. It is surmounted by a multi-lobed end that looks something like a melon. This is capped with a finial...

This 12 5/8" long, sterling silver and ivory item is an unusual Gorham piece. It is one on nine claret pitcher spoons made in the 1898-99 period. They were numbered 912 through 920, with this one being number 916. Each number was correlated with a flatware pattern, this matching Imperial Chrysanthemum. Numbers 912 through 915 were all sterling silver, and had simple bowl ends...

In the mid 1860's, Gorham was a major supplier to Tiffany's retail operation, and this 6" long sugar shell is an example of that relationship, as evidenced by the marks on the reverse. Gorham was the sole source of this, or any, Medallion pattern for Tiffany. All work for Tiffany was done to a Sterling standard, and that is the case with this. The figure is a helmuted warrior, perhaps Mars. The reverse is monogrammed "S.V.M." in Old English lettering...

This 6 1/2" long item appears in Gorham's 1888 catalog listed as a butter fork (see image 2 for a facsimile of the page). This form today is more commonly known as a butter pick, but it is interesting to note its original nomenclature. It is an imaginative design, with a wire core enveloped by two additional twisting wires that broaden at the end into a heart shaped design. The piece is in flawless condition. It is stamped with the Gorham lion, anchor, G, Sterling, and the number 14.

The style of this 7 1/2" long, sterling silver fork defies categorization. It appears to be design for design sake, and in that sense probably falls within the aesthetic realm. Made by Gorham, likely circa 1890, it is item number 278. It has a twist stem with a rolled wire handle that seems to be representative of nothing but itself. The three tine serving end has a matte finish, while the rest of the piece has a bright finish. The condition is excellent...

This solid sterling silver butter pick is 6" long. It is an old, original item, not one contrived from another piece. The pattern is Wallace's art nouveau Irian. This features a complete figure of a female with nude torso. She is gossamer garbed from the waist down, and is surrounded by three winged cherubs. The backside is monogrammed "J" in Old English lettering. The piece is in perfect condition, with no signs of wear or damage. Marks are the Wallace deer head emblem, Sterling, and Pat...

Gorham produced virtually countless numbers of items that were not full line designs, and were identified only by production numbers. This example is one of those. It is numbered 594 and no doubt dates late 1800's. It is a 4 7/8" long, three tine fork, probably for oysters, but possibly for olives or condiments. The end of the handle is formed from a series of five balls graduated down in size, with yet one more partially formed, "emerging" ball set where the others join. The tine area has ...

This coin silver cheese scoop in Albert Coles' (NY) Jenny Lind stands apart on several counts. First, it is a form not usually seen by this maker. Second, it is in a form that pairs a solid shank with a hollow handle. While examples of this routinely show up in master butter knives, youth and pickle sets, and tea knives, this pairing in a substantial serving item is quite out of the ordinary. It is completely original, and self-evidently so, with the maker's mark stamped on the shank, and a ...

Open salts were a staple on any Victorian table. They were produced in a variety of materials, including glass, ceramic, and as the case with this pair, in silver. No company generated more examples of this form than Gorham. Indeed, the Tompkins book on this subject documents a full century of Gorham's production. According to Tompkins, this set, item number 2480, dates to 1890. These possess a commanding look. They are large, 4 1/2" long, 1 3/4" tall, and weighty, 3.9 T. oz. combined. Th...

This singular sterling silver fork, whose design sensibility is aesthetic, was made by Gorham, probably c. 1885. The central portion is a solid tube or wire with a 1 1/2" lower section that is twisted. There is a barrel-like cross piece that is the most substantial element of the whole piece. This may have served the practical function of hooking the item onto a caster stand. The end has a finial that is shaped somewhat like an acorn. The three tine serving end is rather diminutive. This s...