posted 02-09-2017 08:38 AM            

Hello,

I am a collector and sometimes seller of American hollowware and flatware. I have amassed large collections of Durgin Fairfax, Whiting Dresden, and Whiting Ivory. Eventually as all collectors do i have drifted to the rare and obscure. I recently came into this Gorham piece.

It is an interesting and unusual Gorham piece. Possibly an asparagus server. If its half of a fish set the blade must have been massive. The blade has applied cattails with piercing between the reeds and fine and delicate, bright cut engraving that expands on the silver appliqué. This is the same Cattails spray as the one on the Isis (1870-1874) Asparagus Tongs in the Houston museum. The handle is cast as a bundle of reeds that extend up from the spray on the blade. The handle reminds me of the Ecstacy of St Theresa by Bernini....

It is marked Gorham and appears to have the date mark for 1874 on it. (Rare if not unheard of for flatware to be dated…perhaps it was made to accompany a one off hollowware piece?) Came from a Beverly Hills Estate.

The length is 9 ½. It is 3 1/16th wide at the widest. Butler finish blade. Never gilded. No monogram. Weighs 168 grams.

Wondering if anyone has seen the handle style before? Has anyone seen other Gorham flatware pieces with actual date marks?

The more I handle it the more i feel it was a one off piece, probably an Asparagus server made to go with an Asparagus tray perhaps....

Any and all info welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Brian J

posted 02-09-2017 06:10 PM            

I do love your spoon and agree its probably Whiting.