Catalog

the parcel gilt blade luxuriously engraved with rose flowers and foliage, length 10 1/4 inches, weight a massive 5.06 Troy ounces, excellent original condition, monogrammed (reverse) as shown in fourth enlargement.

Compare on the big bad auction site (item 332946849323) @895.00

length 7 1/8 inches, weight 1.56 Troy ounces, no monogram, some scratches on blade which we've pictured in excruciating detail (see third enlargement) but overall condition is far above average.

with applied foliage and a blossom over acid etched decoration on hammered background, gilt bowl, no monogram, excellent condition, length 5 3/4 inches, weight 1.60 Troy ounces, marked "sterling" overstruck by "c".

This unusual combination of etched and applied decoration lends the piece a three-dimensional quality which is quite successful, artistically.

7 1/2 inches long, weight 1.74 oz. Troy, excellent condition, gilt bowl, no monogram, retailed by Cox Brothers.

yes, just one lonesome pastry fork and monogrammed ("G" script, obverse) at that, length six inches, fine condition, weight .91 Troy ounces.

length 5 1/2 inches, excellent condition, no monogram, gilt tines, weight .89 Troy oz, marked as shown in third enlargement.

Is this the cheapest example on the entire Internet? No, it is not!! There's a sad, tired looking one on ebay which you can pick up for a bit less, but doesn't your collection deserve the best??

length 9 inches, weight 2.54 Troy ounces, monogrammed "M" (obverse, Old English), fine condition, gilt bowl.

Marked only "sterling" and "Theodore B. Starr".

length 7 3/4 inches, three letter script monogram (reverse) as shown in enlargement number five, exceptionally fine condition, weight 1.36 oz. Troy, the blade well engraved with trailing bellflower decoration.

length 9 3/8 inches (3 1/8 inches across bowl) weight 2.85 Troy ounces, monogrammed "R" (script, reverse), fine condition, reasonably priced, gilt bowl, see third enlargement for marks.

Let's take a moment to reflect upon why a dealer, or at least Yours Truly, chooses to add an item to inventory.

Over the years, I've examined many pieces of Martelé, and if you dear reader will forgive me for a bit of crudeness, most of them are "trashed." Specifically, the detail is severely worn away, leaving the beauty of the overall design still appreciable but no longer intact.

Why? Because Gorham made a bit of a bargain with the devil, and used .950 or .9584 silver to make...

length 5 3/8 inches, excellent condition, gilt bowl, no monogram, retailed by Hart Brothers. Unlike many of its alleged peers, this one is not "custom made" or "hand crafted" but an original product of Gorham some hundred and twenty-five years old.

Several years ago when Gorham was still in the Providence area and owned by Brown Forman, they decided to reissue some popular early patterns. We bought this piece "new and in the bag," though not directly from the factory. It has seen no use since then (1995 or so) and is in pristine condition. Length 9 inches, 3.06 oz. Troy, mark "Gorham Sterling." It is well worth a quick look at our third enlargement to see what a piece of Medallion flatware looks like, when freshly struck...

length 7 1/2 inches, weight 1.25 oz. Troy, monogrammed as shown in second enlargement, excellent condition. Often, Gorham's engraved decoration is unsuited to the pattern's theme, but here a classically engraved blade with wrigglework border goes well, stylistically, with the Greek bust woman's portrait.

Compare on the Big Bad Auction Site (item 295853985036) @499.99!

length 4 1/4 inches, no monogram, the gilt bowl is a bit splotchy but otherwise in fine condition.

length 9 3/4 inches, weight 5.38 Troy ounces, monogrammed "F" (reverse), a bit brighter than we'd like but still with minimal wear to the high points. Marked with Gorham trademark, star, sterling, copyrighted (twice!!), and datemark for 1886.

Even without the exquisitely engraved blade this would have been a rare find, so we're doubly pleased. Note: although this server is hollow handled, we do not believe it to be weighted.

length 5 3/4 inches, weight .93 oz. Troy, retailed by A.B. Griswold, monogrammed "Ninth Year."

There are some scratches on the reverse of the bowl, at end (see second enlargement) but the colorfully enameled head-dress is intact, and the face retains its original oxidation.

the knife length 7 3/8 inches with Little Boy Blue a-blowing his horn, the spoon with Old Mother Hubbard and her sizable schnoz length 6 inches, total Troy weight 2.27 ounces, some scratches to bowl but fine overall condition, engraved "Roger from Auntie" (reverse).

Both figures appear to be hand chased-- note the detail in Blue's hat and knickers.

with high relief cast bust of Van Dyck, length 9 inches, weight 3.24 Troy ounces, no monogram. Truly one of Antoine Heller's greatest designs, and among Gorham's most sculptural patterns.

There is a file cut (visible from side and reverse only; see fourth photo) which we've pictured in excruciating detail, and some light pitting on the blade which we've mostly polished out and probably will address a bit more, as time allows. Aside from this, the condition is excellent.