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.
Blithe Spirit by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 60 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Stunning Blithe Spirit by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 60 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/4" 12 forks, 7 1/4" 12 salad forks, 6 3/4" 12 teaspoons, 6" 12 place soup...
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
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
Blithe Spirit by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 36 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Blithe spirit by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 36 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
Gossamer by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 6 Service 24 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Gossamer by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 24 pieces. This modern style pattern has clean lines and a Florentine-style brushed finish. This set includes: 6 knives, 8 7/8" 6...
Sterling Silver
Gossamer by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 46 pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Gossamer by Gorham sterling silver flatware set with brushed / matte / Florentine finish, 46 pieces. This set includes: eight knives, 8 7/8", eight forks, 7 3/8", eight salad for...
Sterling Silver
Gorham Sterling Silver Thirty-Six Piece Part Flatware Service
By Gorham
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Gorham Sterling Silver Thirty-Six Piece Part Flatware Service Marked, in the Etruscan Pattern, most monogramed with a Y. Comprising, seven dinner forks, eight salad forks, twelve bu...
Silver
JEAN TETARD – C.Christofle 144-piece solid silver flatware set, aubusson pattern
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
TOTAL: 144 PIECES. 950/1000 Sterling Silver. Weight: 7140 g net + 1860 g gross. Minerva Hallmark – Art Deco Period, circa 1930 Produced by TETARD FRERES & CHARLES CHRISTOFLE COMPOS...
Silver
Vintage German Sterling Silver Flatware Set for Twelve Persons Circa 1970
By Rosenthal
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage German sterling silver Lotus pattern canteen of cutlery for twelve persons made by Rosenthal; an addition to our antique flatware sets. The pieces of this exceptional and extensive vintage German sterling silver cutlery service for twelve persons has been crafted in the Lotus pattern. The lower portion of each handle is embellished with an impressive organic design, all in the iconic Art Nouveau manner. This vintage canteen consists of 112 pieces: Basic Service: 12 Table knives 12 Table forks 12 Dessert knives 12 Dessert forks 12 Dessert spoons 12 Fish/hors d'oeuvre knives 12 Fish/hors d'oeuvre forks 12 Coffee spoons 12 Teaspoons Additional Pieces: Pair of serving spoons Large serving fork Small serving fork The pieces of this silver flatware set, including the original knives, have been crafted by the German silversmith Rosenthal; often this maker manufactured items in a lower grade of silver or silver plate, indicating the high quality of this sterling silver service. This vintage canteen of cutlery is supplied in felt cutlery rolls; which not only protect the items in storage but significantly reduce tarnishing. NOTE: This item contains knives and is only available for sale to persons aged 18 or over. Proof of age will be required upon purchase. Condition This vintage German sterling silver Lotus pattern cutlery set is a superior gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. Each piece has been professionally polished and is in presentation condition. The German hallmarks struck to the reverse of each piece are all very clear; the hallmarks are struck deeply due to the superior gauge of silver. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this fine and impressive Rosenthal flatware...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Mid-Century Flatware Set
By Towle Silversmiths
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver flatware set: service for 16, 5 pieces per setting, total of 80 pieces. Designed by Towle Silversmiths in the 1950’s, it is quintessential Mid-Cen...
Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Flatware Set, Military Pattern by George Adams
By George Adams
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique English sterling silver straight Military Thread & Shell pattern flatware service made by George Adams; an addition to our flatware collection. The pieces of this exceptional, antique Victorian straight sterling silver canteen of cutlery has been crafted in the Military Thread and Shell pattern. The surface of each handle is embellished with a paralleling thread decorated border accented with a shell design to the terminal. The reverse of each spoon bowl is ornamented with a thread decorated rounded heel. This Military Thread and Shell pattern cutlery set consists of 109 pieces: Basic service 18 table forks 18 table spoons 24 dessert forks 23 dessert spoons 21 teaspoons Additional pieces Soup ladle Pair of serving spoons Runcible/serving spoon Caddy spoon The pieces of this service have been crafted by the collectable, renowned silversmith and flatware maker George Adams of Chawner & Co in 1863; eleven of the dessert spoons bear a subtly different size to the remaining twelve, this does not detract from the service. This antique flatware service is supplied in felt cutlery rolls; which not only protect the items in storage but significantly reduces tarnishing. Note: Due to the nature of this service it can be determined it was made for military use. Each piece would have been embellished with an engraved crest which has since been removed; there remains minor signs of the engraving to some pieces. "Straight" means all the pieces are made by the same maker in the same year. Condition This thread and shell pattern cutlery set is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. Each piece has been professionally polished and is in presentation condition. The pattern decoration has sympathetic wear in keeping with age and use. Each piece shows minor signs of an erased engraved crest. Full hallmarks struck to the reverse of each piece are all very clear; there is some wear to some marks, in keeping with age. Dimensions Table fork 21cm/8.3" Table spoon 22.2cm/8.7" Dessert fork 18cm/7.1" Dessert spoon 17.5cm/6.9" Teaspoon 14.9cm/5.9" Soup ladle 33.8cm/13.3" Serving spoon 29.2cm/11.5" Runcible spoon...
Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Flatware Set for Twelve Persons by George Adams (1842)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver straight single struck Fiddle, Thread & Shell pattern flatware service for 12 persons made by George Adams; an addition to our canteen of cutlery collection. The pieces of this exceptional, antique Victorian straight* sterling silver flatware service for 12 persons have been crafted in the Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern. The surface of each handle is embellished with a paralleling thread decorated border accented with a shell design to the terminal and reverse of each bowl. The anterior surface of each spoon and fork handle terminal are ornamented with a contemporary engraved crest of a leopard couchant guardant and collared. The posterior surface of each piece is plain and unembellished, apart from a rounded heel to the bowl of each spoon. This single struck Fiddle Thread and Shell pattern flatware set consists of 48 pieces: 12 Table forks 12 Table spoons 12 Dessert forks 12 Dessert spoons Each piece of this service has been crafted by the collectable, renowned silversmith and flatware maker George Adams of Chawner & Co in 1842. This antique silver service...
Silver, Sterling Silver
