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.
$575 / set
H 7 in W 2 in D 2 in
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
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
$30,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 10 in W 0.5 in D 0.25 in
Antique Tiffany Renaissance Sterling Silver Dinner Set for 12
By Tiffany & Co., Paulding Farnham.
Located in New York, NY
Renaissance sterling silver dinner set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1910. This set comprises 156 pieces (dimensions in inches): Forks: 12 dinner forks (8), 12 salad fo...
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
Christofle (Cardeilhac) - 121pc. Antique French Sterling Silver Flatware Set
By Christofle Cardeilhac 1, Amelie Cardeilhac
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from Paris, a magnificent 121pc. antique French sterling silver flatware set by one of France’s premier silversmiths “Amelie Card...
Sterling Silver
$810 / set
H 9.75 in W 1 in D 0.5 in
1847 Rogers Bros. Silverplate Flatware Set, Service for 6, 52 Pieces
By 1847 Rogers Bros.
Located in North Palm Beach, FL
This 1847 Rogers Bros. flatware service is presented in the “Heraldic” pattern, first introduced in 1916 and recognized for its distinctive Arts & Crafts–influenced design. The p...
Silver Plate
$36,000
H 4 in Dm 0.5 in
Extensive Gorham Sterling Silver Three-Hundred Twenty-Two Piece Flatware Service
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Extensive Gorham Sterling Silver Three-Hundred Twenty-Two Piece Flatware Service, Buckingham Pattern. Marked. Assembled, some with the etched initial M. Comprising, 24 dinner kniv...
Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Flatware Set for Ten by Charles Boyton II
By Charles Boyton II
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An execptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English straight sterling silver King's pattern flatware service for ten persons; an addition to our canteen of cutlery collection The pieces of this fine, antique Victorian straight* sterling silver cutlery service for ten persons have been crafted in King's pattern. The anterior surface of each piece incorporates the engraved initials 'HCD'. The reverse of each spoon and fork features a union shell and diamond heel in addition to convex shell ornamentation to the terminal. This Kings pattern cutlery service consists of 40 pieces: 10 Table forks 10 Dessert forks 10 Dessert spoons 10 Teaspoons The components of this antique service have been crafted by the collectable, renowned silversmith Charles Boyton II in 1868; the components will have been crafted in the same year but due to the hallmarking system the items are struck with the date letters m and n. This flatware service can be purchased with King's pattern knives if desired; for further information please contact Andrew Campbell directly. This impressive Kings pattern cutlery is supplied in felt cutlery rolls; which not only protect the items in storage but significantly reduces tarnishing. * "Straight" means all the pieces are made by the same maker in the same year. Condition This antique cutlery...
Sterling Silver
$42,832
H 8.47 in Dm 1.97 in
ODIOT – 99-piece solid silver cutlery set, "LOUVECIENNES" model, 20th century
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
ODIOT – 99-piece solid silver cutlery set, "LOUVECIENNES" model, 20th century Material: 1st grade 950/1°°° silver Weight: Net weight: 6.316 kg +Gross weight (knives): 1.944 kg ...
Silver
Savary & Fils: 182pc. French 950 Sterling Silver Flatware Set, 26 Svg. Pcs. 1880
By Savary Paris 1
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from Paris: A magnificent 182pc. Louis XVI, 950 sterling silver flatware set by French silversmith Savary & Fils "Silversmith to the Kings and Queens of Europe". Includes...
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
English Gadroon by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 12 Service 87 pcs Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Dinner Size English Gadroon by Gorham sterling silver Flatware set, 87 pieces. This set includes: 12 Dinner Size Knives, 9 5/8", 12 Dinner Size Forks, 7 5/8", 12 Salad Forks, 6 1...
Sterling Silver
English Gadroon by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 70 pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
English gadroon by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 70 pieces. This set includes: eight knives, 8 3/4", eight forks, 7 1/8", eight salad forks, 6 1/4", eight teaspoons, 5 3/...
Sterling Silver
Lady Constance by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 77 Pieces
By Towle Silversmiths
Located in Big Bend, WI
Stunning Lady Constance by Towle, circa 1922, sterling silver Flatware set - 77 pieces. This set includes: 8 Knives, 8 3/4" 8 Forks, 7 1/4" 8 Salad for...
Sterling Silver
English Gadroon by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 8 Service 94 Pcs Dinner
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Superb dinner size English Gadroon by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 94 pieces. This set includes: 8 dinner size knives, 9 1/2" 8 dinner size forks, 7 5/8" 8 salad forks, 6 1/...
Sterling Silver
Lady Constance by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set Twelve Service 90 pieces
By Towle Silversmiths
Located in Big Bend, WI
Gorgeous Lady Constance by Towle sterling silver Flatware set, 90 pieces. This set includes: 12 Knives, 8 3/4" 12 Forks, 7 1/4" 12 Salad Forks, 6 1/4" ...
Sterling Silver
Cluny by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set Dinner & Luncheon Service, 153 Pcs
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Cluny by Gorham sterling silver flatware set, 153 pieces. This set includes: 12 dinner size knives, 10 1/4", 24 dinner size forks, 7 5/8", 12 regular knives, 8 1/2", 24 regular forks, 6 3/4", 12 salad/fish forks, 6 3/4", 12 teaspoons, 6", 12 gumbo soup spoons, 6 3/4", 12 place soup spoons, 6 5/8", 12 tea knives, all-sterling, 8 3/8", ten pastry forks, 5 7/8", six serving spoons, 8 1/4", one flat handle master butter knife, 7 7/8", one vegetable serving set, 8 3/4", one pie server, bright-cut, 9 1/4", one claret ladle...
Sterling Silver
