posted 02-20-2008 05:57 PM            

Hello,

I thought I would post a little about myself and interests as suggested by one of the moderators in my first post. My main interest is Gorham Chantilly. My mother gave me her set of Chantilly since she never used it. Her set consisted of pieces they received at the time of their marriage in 1965 and consisted of the "basic" place pieces and serving pieces. I have since added many more pieces (place pieces, serving pieces and holloware) and prefer those made prior to 1950 to those made afterwards. I don't mind monograms, if they were properly engraved and look nice and avoid pieces that have had monograms removed. This has sparked my interest in silver especially Gorham. I have collected other silver pieces from mostly American companies and a few British pieces. Within the past year, I have inherited a small set of Gorham Etruscan that once belonged to a great-great aunt and a full set of Baker and Manchester Gadroonette that my grandparents received as a wedding gift. I like to use my silver as often as possible (not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas) but not on a daily basis. I have done a lot of research but have come up with few definitive answers and have a pretty good collection of reference books. My inter-library loan librarian hates to hear my voice when I call since she knows I am going to ask the impossible but she does her best to try and get me the materials I request. I will be quiet now since I am getting carpel tunnel from typing all this and I am sure you are getting eyestrain from reading it. But be forewarned, I have many questions that I can't wait to post and hopefully add more knowledge so that I am better informed as a collector.

Robert

PS, my main collecting goal is to have a "complete" collection of Chantilly including all pieces made by Gorham (and none of those made-up fantasy pieces, fakes made from teaspoons etc.)

posted 02-21-2008 07:00 AM            

If you don't mind my asking, how many different pieces do you have? Which one is your favorite?

posted 02-21-2008 08:51 PM            

Apparently the original Chantilly had some pieces that had additional scroll work where the handle meets the serving implement. I have been able to identify about 70 pieces that have this feature such as the large flat handle master butter knife, sugar shell, tomato server, chipped beef, cold meat etc.

I am not sure if this was standard until the "New Chantilly" was introduced or was an "upgrade" like the enameled pieces. This is where I get frustrated. Given the popularity of Chantilly and the number of pieces sold and number of collectors, there seems to be a significant lack of solid source material and reference book(s). Sure most books mention it as the "best selling" silver pattern and its longevity, but that is about as far as they go.

posted 02-24-2008 07:30 PM            

We also have a set of Chantilly, which was inherited from a grandmother who was married in 1907. It came with 12 place settings and a number of serving pieces. For the past 30 years we have been using it every night, at dinner. And, during those 30 years, we have doubled the amount of Chantilly in the silver chest, adding place pieces she did not have, and serving pieces.

posted 02-24-2008 07:50 PM            

This sounds like a major undertaking. There sometimes are also regional and overseas items in US flatware patterns. Like the gumbo spoon sold in the South. And items destined for overseas markets. Like the French fruit sets which were made from hollow handle butter knife handles fitted with long forks and blades. AIR, Chantilly has at least 4 distinct items thought to be salad forks.

posted 02-26-2008 10:01 PM            

I did once have a Chantilly sugar spoon with the scroll edge, engraved in the bowl "To Ethel from Birdie".

posted 02-27-2008 06:55 PM            

Could you please tell us what your references are for the 70 pieces with the extra applied decoration, or are you referring to what is in your collection?

Thanks.

posted 02-27-2008 07:36 PM            

I wish I had all those piecesin my collection, I would be one happy person! In trying to figure out what all pieces were made over the years in Chantilly, I went to the big online replacements website and created a database of all of the pieces that they had listed in the various Chantilly patterns. I ended up with hundreds of "different" pieces but I suspect that there are quite alot that are duplicates but are listed twice, just with different lengths (usually only by 1/8th inch different). I think this length difference is due to the normal wear over the years, small changes to the dies being used and that this company is being a tad bit overzealous in being accurate.
Anyway, from the initial list I have narrowed down the number that had the applied decoration as well as those that had gilding. I hope to be receiving an original gorham catalouge this week, so hopefully I will have more definite info later on.

posted 03-15-2008 09:09 PM            

What the dealer had was not a catalogue but more of a brochure that didn't show anything of value, so I didn't buy it. I did however buy the three catalogue reprints from Beverly Bremer. I have created a spreadsheet where I have gone through and listed each individual piece according to each catalogue and that documents changes in designs. I have also measured each piece in the catalogues and recorded that info in the spreadsheet as well. As a (sort-of) check, I downloaded the listing from the big online replacement services and compared their measurements to those I made. So far I am up to around 300 different pieces when you take into account the applied (scroll) decoration, gilt and plain pieces. There is no mention of the enameled or delft enameled pieces since those were special order pieces.

Tonight I am going to try to work on sorting out the post 1950 pieces. If anyone would like to help by measuring and sharing info on Chantilly pieces, I would be very grateful. If you would like a copy of my spreadsheet, just let me know and I will be happy to share as well.