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Gorham Birmingham UK - teaspoon

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Author	Topic: Gorham Birmingham UK - teaspoon
wessex96 Posts: 56 Registered: Feb 2009	posted 04-18-2010 08:31 AM [26-1974] This spoon was made in the Gorham factory in Birmingham, UK. I had the impression that the designs of all Gorham items manufactured in the UK originated in the US. Can anyone confirm this? Also, can anyone help with the name of the pattern of this spoon? Thanks. IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 04-18-2010 12:09 PM Hi Wessex ! The. Pattern is Empire 1906. Gotta run company coming. Jersey IP: Logged
wessex96 Posts: 56 Registered: Feb 2009	posted 04-26-2010 01:00 PM Thanks for that, Jersey. I could not find the pattern in Carpenter's book. IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 04-26-2010 06:30 PM Hello again Wessex! The confusion here is, if I am not mistaken is in the Gorham mark. Apparently it is the marks used in the UK, which turned the lion around. It confused me too till a did a search for Gorham marks in the UK. Your piece is silverplate not sterling. Perhaps another forum member can explain this better. Jersey Jersey IP: Logged
agphile Posts: 798 Registered: Apr 2008	posted 04-26-2010 06:47 PM Jersey I read the marks as Gorham, Birmingham,1915, sterling (not plated). Marks like this would be illegal on plated items in Britain David [This message has been edited by agphile (edited 04-26-2010).] IP: Logged
wessex96 Posts: 56 Registered: Feb 2009	posted 04-26-2010 06:56 PM Yes, I agree the marks are for Birmingham, UK, for sterling silver. (However, I have read that the Gorham 1906 Empire pattern was often used on silver plate in the US.) Ian IP: Logged
DB Posts: 252 Registered: May 2006	posted 04-27-2010 09:11 AM Re Gorham in England, a short excerpt from John Culme: The Directory of Gold&Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914. Gorham products first appeared in England marketed by the agency John Henry Buck in 1894, ,then 1904 Gorham opened a showroom under the management of Abraham Cotton in London, in 1909 they took over a Birmingham factory, previously owned by Hary Emanuel and registered the above manufacturer's mark.Remarkably Gorham salesmen did not carry samples but just great books with full-size photographs - a long description of how Gorham's factory worked (they made sterling and electro-plated goods) is given here also. Gorham maintained their Birmingham factory until WWI and was a large exhibitor at the Jewellers Exhibitions of 1913 and 1914. IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 04-27-2010 02:28 PM This is what I may be confused about. This refers to a tip I read about Gorham marks. The lion on Gorham silver, does not always mean that the wares are sterling, as it does in England. All American sterling silver is marked STERLING and sometimes also has 925 or 925/1000 in the mark, to indicate sterling silver. If you have an item with the Gorham 3 symbol mark, and it doesn't say STERLING, or MARTELE, it is silverplate. Jersey IP: Logged
dragonflywink Posts: 993 Registered: Dec 2002	posted 04-27-2010 03:00 PM Ummm, rushing at the moment, but have to say that "tip" is just so off in so many ways....regardless, this piece, as mentioned, bears the proper British hallmarks. ~Cheryl IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11573 Registered: Apr 93	posted 04-27-2010 03:42 PM From our pocket guide (click image to enlarge): IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 04-27-2010 04:55 PM Thanks Scott The marks on the spoon are Anchor, Lion, small letter g, in that order. Those I don't find those marks in that order anywhere. Help! Jersey IP: Logged
dragonflywink Posts: 993 Registered: Dec 2002	posted 04-27-2010 05:42 PM Jersey, I believe that you're seeing the anchor, lion and "g" as Gorham marks. They are British hallmarks, the anchor for the Birmingham assay office, the lion-passant indicating that it's sterling, and the lower case "q" (not "g"), indicating the year of assay - 1915 (the cartouche shapes are also important); if this piece had been assayed a year later, the letter would have been an "r" instead of the "q". The Gorham maker's mark in this case is the "G·M·Co". IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 04-27-2010 06:17 PM Thanks Cheryl! That's just what I thought, that the hallmarks were English. It was the Gorham co mark that had me going. Did not know they did that. BTW who are you rooting for in the Nhl to win the cup? I'm going with my Godson who's a Hawks season tkt holder. My GF in England is for the Capitals & my other GF is for the Penguins. This is all our choices now that our favorite Devils blew it again. Jersey IP: Logged

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