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.
Celeste Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 57 Pcs Mid-Century Modern
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celeste by Gorham, circa 1956, sterling silver flatware set of 57 pieces. This set includes: Eight knives, 9 3/8", eight forks, 7 1/2", eight salad forks, 7 1/8", eight teaspoon...
Sterling Silver
Celeste Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 61 pcs Mid Century Modern
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
In the mid to late 1950's "space age silver" was all the rage. In 1957, the year of Sputnik, star-studded sterling flatware was continuing to be designed and released, which continue...
Sterling Silver
Celeste by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Service For 12 Set 48 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celeste by Gorham sterling silver flatware set - 48 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/4", 12 forks, 7 1/2", 12 salad forks, 7 1/8", 12 t...
Sterling Silver
Celeste by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 36 Pcs Mid Century Mod
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
In the mid to late 1950's "space age silver" was all the rage. In 1957, the year of Sputnik, star-studded sterling flatware was continuing to be designed and released, which continued all through the 60's. President Kennedy's mission in 1961 to reach the moon culminated the successful voyage of the Apollo 11 spacecraft in 1969. It was an exciting time in space...
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
Celeste by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 55 Pieces Modern
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Mid-Century Modern Celeste by Gorham, circa 1956 sterling silver flatware set of 55 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 3/8" 12 forks, 7 1/2" 12 salad forks, 7 1/8" 12 teaspoons, 6" 1 gravy ladle, 7 1/4" 1 serving spoon, 8 1/2" 1 hollow handle master butter knife, 7" 1 lemon fork, 2-tine, 4" 1 pie server w/stainless blade, 10 3/4" 1 nut spoon, 4 1/8" 1 jelly server, 6 1/4" Includes bonus brand new storage chest - styles vary. Excellent condition, no monograms. Will be professionally polished to pristine condition and sealed in individual plastic sleeves prior to shipping. In the mid-late 1950s "space age silver" was all the rage. In 1957, the year of Sputnik, star-studded sterling flatware was continuing to be designed and released, which continued all through the 1960s. President Kennedy's mission in 1961 to reach the moon culminated the successful voyage of the Apollo 11 spacecraft in 1969. It was an exciting time in space...
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
Onedia Mid-Century South Seas Silverplate Flatware Set for Community
By Community
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A 58 piece set of silverplated sculptural south seas pattern styled flatware with 8 serving pieces, with five pieces for each place setting salad, dinner fork, tea, soup spoon and knife. There are eight severing pieces butter, cake knife, slotted, large severing and condiment spoon...
Silver Plate
Flatware, Cutlery Set by Berndorf Model 9100, Charleston
By Berndorfer Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Austrian high quality flatware by Berndorf, former Krupp company, model 9100 Charleston from the 1970s. The cutlery has handle with very interesting geometric decor. Used but in exce...
Stainless Steel
CJ Vander Sterling Silver Flatware Set in Hester Bateman Pattern
By C.J. Vander
Located in New York, NY
CJ Vander, English sterling silver flatware set, in the Hester Bateman pattern, beautifully adorned with floral and geometric motifs, consisting of: 8 dinner forks measuring 8 1/2''...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Gorham American Modernist Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 77 Pieces
By Gorham
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and made in Rhode Island, USA, this awesome sterling flatware set features 77 pieces total, with enough main components to serve 8 people with all the standard pieces: large...
Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
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
