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.
Sea Rose Gold by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service Vermeil 32 Pc
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Sea Rose gold by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 32 pieces. This set is vermeil (completely gold-washed) and includes: Eight knives, 9 1/4", eight fork...
Sterling Silver
Antique Gorham American Edwardian Classical Sterling Silver Baby Cup
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian Classical sterling silver baby cup. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1910. Baluster bowl with looping handle and raised foot; alternating narrow and wide gadroons with boss...
Sterling Silver
$1,287Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Antique Gorham Victorian Cut-Glass & Sterling Silver Decanters
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Victorian cut-glass and sterling silver decanters. Made by Gorham in providence in 1891. Each: moon body with large stylized flower head on both sides and diaper and stars on front and back. C-scroll handle...
Sterling Silver
Gorham Silver Plate Wine Bottle Holder/Pourer
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This is a beautifully designed and practical wine holder and pourer made by Gorham, with an adjustable neck ring accommodating any bottle shape; Burgundy or Bordeaux. The two-part st...
Silver Plate
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Gorham Art Nouveau Red Silver Overlay Cologne Bottle
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau red glass cologne bottle with engraved silver overlay. Made by Gorham in Providence, circa 1886. Globular with short neck and flat everted rim. Stopper globular. Tight an...
Sterling Silver
$1,500
Sterling Bowl
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We are delighted to offer this sterling silver bowl by Gorham Silver Company of Providence, Rhode Island. It has a fluted rim with a scalloped edge. Manufactured after WWII, it refle...
Sterling Silver
$11,200Sale Price|20% Off
Fine Gorham Sterling Silver Tea and Coffee Service
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Gorham Sterling Silver Six-Piece Tea & Coffee Service w/ Christofle Plated Tray Gorham Manufacturing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, Comprising, a teapot, coffee pot, kettle on a lam...
Silver
Sterling Lorraine Server
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver server in the Lorraine pattern by Gorham Silversmiths. The handle is scalloped and has flowers around the to...
Sterling Silver
$1,350
Gorham, 1906 Bowl
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We’ve spent a lot of time, energy and money restoring the 112 year old piece to its original glory. Every ding and scratch removed and it looks magnificent. A delicate pattern of lat...
Sterling Silver
Gorham Silver and Glass Whiskey Jug in Snail Pattern, circa 1900
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Gorham stopper fully marked. The glass by Jay Hoare, Corning NY, circa 1890. Whiskey Jug and Stopper in "Snail" Pattern. Colorless lead glass, silver; blown, cut, engraved. Squat cy...
Silver
Virginiana by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 48 Pieces Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Stunning Virginiana by Gorham sterling silver Art Nouveau Flatware set, 48 pieces. This set includes: 6 Dinner Size Knives w/blunt plated blades, 9 5/8" 6 Dinner Size Forks, 7 3/4" ...
Sterling Silver
Angelo by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 75 pcs Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Exceedingly rare Dinner and Luncheon size Angelo by Gorham, circa 1870, sterling silver Flatware set - 75 pieces. This pattern features unusual, shaped, hollow handles. This set incl...
Sterling Silver
Shell Aka Hampton by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 60 Pcs
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Gorham sterling shell (formerly Hampton 1913) by Gorham sterling silver Flatware set - 60 pieces. This set includes: 12 Knives, 9 1/4" 12 Forks...
Sterling Silver
Blithe Spirit by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 61 Pieces New
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Unused Blithe Spirit by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware set - 61 pieces. This set includes: 8 Knives, 9 1/8" 8 Forks, 7 1/4" 8 Salad Forks, 6 5/8" 8 Teaspoons, 5 7/8" 8 Place Soup ...
Sterling Silver
$1,080Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Gorham Aesthetic Sterling Silver Olive Spoon with Pick
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic 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...
Sterling Silver
Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 56 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Heirloom quality Greenbrier by Gorham sterling silver flatware set - 56 pieces. This set includes: 8 knives, 8 7/8" 8 forks, 7 3/8" 8 salad forks...
Sterling Silver
Blithe Spirit by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for Eight Service 40 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Blithe Spirit by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 40 pieces. This set includes: Eight knives, 9 1/4", eight forks, 7 1/4", eight salad forks, 6 3/4", eight teaspoons, 6", o...
Sterling Silver
Celeste by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set Six Service Luncheon 32 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Six knives, 9 1/4". Six forks, 7 1/2". Six salad forks, 7 1/8". Six teaspoons, 6". Six place soup spoons, 7 1/8". One pierced serving spoon, 8 1/2". One sugar spoon, 6 1/4". Includ...
Sterling Silver
Buttercup by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Service 12 Set Gold Vermeil
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Stunning buttercup gold by Gorham sterling silver flatware set - 48 pieces. Gold flatware is on trend and makes a bold statement on your table. This set is vermeil (completely gold-w...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver “Royal Oak” Serving Fork
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver serving piece by Gorham Silversmiths in the “Royal Oak” pattern. One of the company’s most iconic patterns, “Royal Oak” has become one of their m...
Sterling Silver
$580Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Gorham Edwardian Sterling Silver & Crystal Decanter
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian crystal decanter with sterling silver stopper. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1897. Bell-form bowl with baluster neck, U-form spout, and c...
Crystal, Sterling Silver