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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Sterling Silver
 Gorham Salt Cellar
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| Author | Topic: Gorham Salt Cellar |
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David C Walters Posts: 64 |
posted 06-05-2012 12:09 PM
  
Not too long ago I picked up this Gorham salt cellar. I initially purchased it because I loved the look of it, I got it for a great price, and because I thought I would eventually be able to match it up and make a pair out of it. No such luck thus far. I have searched far and wide and have only been able to find one other example of this particular salt bowl, and it wasn't an exact match as the other example had additional decorative elements added to it. Here are some photos of the item in question: The underside is marked with the standard Gorham marks as well as "JEC&C" (for JE Caldwell) and the number "120." It is coin silver and I believe it is a master salt as it is a larger salt bowl than others I have come across. Now for my questions: 1.) Has anyone come across this particular salt bowl before? I would like to be able to gauge my chances at finding another. 2.) Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the salt spoon that would have gone with this particular piece? I realize these are long shots, but I have been surprised in the past. Any thoughts are appreciated. IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-05-2012 01:55 PM
How lovely. I've never seen one like that before, though I have seen that motif at the top, with the rings and balls--they used that on a lot of their hollowware in the 1860s. I think many 1860s era flatware patterns would look nice with it. For myself, I prefer harmonious mismatching to matched sets. I like variety. Good luck in your hunt for a match, if you prefer pairs. IP: Logged |
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Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 |
posted 06-05-2012 05:04 PM
David, See the Handbook of Gorham Open Salt Dishes, by George & Carolyn Tompkins - page 43, plate 47. IP: Logged |
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David C Walters Posts: 64 |
posted 06-06-2012 09:20 AM
Polly ~ One thing that I really wish I was better at was mixing and matching various silver patterns and motifs. I have seen some amazing table settings that got away from sticking with a single pattern and they were amazing...alas... that is not one of my strong points. I tend to stick to matching things up whenever possible while appreciating people with your talents whenever I come across them! Thank you for the tidbits of information regarding the design of my salt bowl. I hope others feel motivated to chime in. Richard ~ Thank you for the reference. Unfortunately, I did not already own a copy of the book you mentioned. I was able to find a copy online last night and the seller was willing to negotiate a reasonable price. I should have it in my hand sometime early next week. IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-06-2012 10:58 AM
David, You may be giving me too much credit--perhaps you would find my mismatched silver an ill-assorted mess. Still, I think if you look for another spherical salt dish from the same period (1860s-70s), you might find a good mismatch. Maybe you'll get some good ideas in that book that Richard recommended. IP: Logged |
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denimrs Posts: 102 |
posted 06-09-2012 11:08 AM
Hi David, Like Polly I prefer mixing things up -- with my flatware and home decor in general. Acquiring the flatware was fun because I decided that I wanted heavy very decorated Victorian era pieces. Buying one at a time gave me a "reason" to go antiquing and I soon found that they were cheaper as a single. Along the way I have made some decisions to concentrate on one make and/or designer. For instance, I have been lucky to find several Tiffany Lap Over Edge pieces that were real bargains. And, when I read the Carpenter Gorham book and learned about Antoine Heller and his work for them, I decided to focus on getting dessert spoons that were in his designs and now have about 6 of them. A side benefit is that my friends comment often on wondering what silver will be at their place when they sit down for dinner. One more thought -- I believe that when one person, and his/her sensibilites, buy what they especially like, it will all go together and live harmoniously. Maybe you could start with one item, such as coffee spoons, or butter spreaders, or salad forks, to see how you feel about the process and the outcome. If you do it, I hope you have as much fun as I did. IP: Logged |
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David C Walters Posts: 64 |
posted 06-09-2012 12:59 PM
denimrs ~ Thanks for the advice! I may have to begin experimenting once some of my current collecting quests have been completed. Richard ~ Thank you for recommending the title by George and Carolyn Tompkins. I had come across it online a few times in the past, but didn't know if it was worth picking up. I just received my copy and now wish that I had purchased one sooner. It is a very impressive little book! By any chance does anyone know anything about the authors other than what is stated in the book's introduction? I would love to find out how much larger their collection grew in the years following the book's release. They sound like fascinating people. David IP: Logged |
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