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.
Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 120 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Greenbrier by Gorham sterling silver flatware set of 120 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9", 12 forks, 7 1/4", 12 salad forks, 6 1/2", ...
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
Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 51 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Greenbrier by Gorham sterling silver flatware set - 51 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9", 12 forks, 7 1/4", 12 salad forks, 6 1/2", 12...
Sterling Silver
Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 81 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Greenbrier by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 81 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 8 7/8" 12 forks, 7 3/8" 12 salad forks, 6 3/4" 12 teaspoons, 6" 12 flat handle butter spr...
Sterling Silver
Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 66 pcs Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Dinner Size Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware set - 66 pieces. This set includes 8 Dinner Size Knives, 9 1/2" 8 Dinner Size Forks, 8" 8 Salad Forks, 6 1/2" 8 Teaspoons, ...
Sterling Silver
Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Service For 6 Set 27 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Greenbrier by Gorham Sterling Silver flatware set - 27 pieces. This set includes: 6 Knives, 8 7/8" 6 Forks, 7 1/4" 6 Salad Forks, 6 3/4" 6 Teaspoons, 6" 1 Serving Spoon, 8 1/2" 1 ...
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
Edwardian "Regent" 16 piece Fork/Knife Silver Plate Silverware Set by Gorham
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Regent pattern is known for its elegant and classic design, often featuring intricate detailing that reflects the refinement and sophistication characteristic of Gorham’s craftsm...
Silver Plate
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
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
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver 76-Piece Flatware Set in Acanthus Pattern for 12
By Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Georg Jensen sterling silver flatware set, in the celebrated Acanthus pattern, from the mid-20th century, consisting of: 12 dinner forks measuring 7 3/8'' in length 12 salad forks m...
Silver, Sterling 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
