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.
Melrose by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 60 Pcs Dinner Size
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Inspired by carvings from the Melrose Mansion of Natchez, Mississippi, this pattern possesses unusual boldness and depth. Melrose has elegant curves and intricate detailing along the...
Sterling Silver
Paris by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 76 pieces Cherubs
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Gorgeous Paris by Gorham Sterling Silver flatware set, 76 pieces. Paris is an Art Nouveau style multi-motif pattern with two full figure cherubs facing each other with a floral arran...
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
Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 12 Service 90 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
Chantilly by Gorham sterling silver flatware set of 90 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 8 3/4", 12 forks, 7", 12 ...
Sterling Silver
Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 48 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
CHANTILLY BY GORHAM sterling silver Flatware set - 48 Pieces. This set includes: 12 KNIVES, MODERN BLADE, 8 7/8" 12 FORKS, 7" 12 SALAD FORKS, 6 1/2" 12 TEASPOONS, 5 3/4" Includes bo...
Sterling Silver
Chantilly by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set 12 Service Luncheon, 63 Pieces
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Big Bend, WI
12 knives, 8 7/8" 12 forks, 7" 12 salad forks, 6 1/2" 12 teaspoons, 5 3/4" 12 flat handle butter spreaders, 5 7/8" Two serving spoons, 8 3/8" One sugar spoon, 5 7/8" Includes bonus...
Sterling Silver
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
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
Victorian Sterling Silver Flatware Set by Mappin Brothers
By Mappin Brothers
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian sterling silver flatware service for twelve persons; an addition to our diverse silver cutlery collection. The pieces of this exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver flatware service for twelve persons have been crafted in an Empire Revival style pattern. The anterior surface of each handle is embellished with a ribbon tied floral tassel terminating with a crossed torch of love and a quiver of arrows. The posterior surface is ornamented with a tied laurel wreath bordered vacant cartouche below a foliate decorated pensile drop. The surfaces of each piece further incorporate a textured finish, with scrolling leaf decorated terminals, a quatrefoil foliate rosette to the stem and a waisted bead bordered knop to the upper portion. Each spoon and fork is further embellished to the reverse with an impressive leaf decorated heel to the bowl and drop. This impressive straight* service consists of 73 pieces: Basic Service 12 Table forks 12 Table spoons 12 Dessert forks 12 Dessert spoons 12 Teaspoons 6 Coffee spoons Additional Pieces Gravy spoon Serving knife 4 Salt spoon Mustard spoon Each item of this impressive and very rare Victorian silver canteen has been crafted by the renowned silversmiths Mappin Brothers in 1899. The anterior surface of each coffee, salt and mustard spoon retains the original gilding to the bowls. This flatware service can be purchased with knives if so desired, due to the rarity of the pattern matching knives are not available but an alternative pattern can be arranged; for further information please contact Andrew Campbell directly. This antique sterling silver cutlery set...
Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Flatware Set by William Eaton, 65 Pieces
By William Eaton
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver straight Albert pattern flatware service for twelve persons made by William Eaton; an addition to our canteen of cutlery collection The pieces of this exceptional, antique Victorian sterling silver straight* flatware service for 12 persons have been crafted in the Albert pattern. The anterior and posterior surfaces of each rococo inspired, King's shape handle are embellished with scrolling leaf ornamentation. The decoration to the anterior of each handle terminal incorporates a contemporary bright cut engraved crest depicting out of a mural crown a spear in pale and two palm branches in saltire**. The heel and shoulders of each piece are embellished with further scrolling decoration. This silver flatware service for 12 persons consists of 65 pieces: Basic Service: 12 Table forks 12 Table spoons 12 Dessert forks 12 Dessert spoons 12 Teaspoons Additional Pieces: Pair of sauce ladles Pair of salt spoons...
Silver, 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
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
