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tline3open  Gorham troll-face tea set

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Author Topic:   Gorham troll-face tea set
Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 04-25-2013 02:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yesterday I received a Gorham partial tea set with spherical bodies and troll or gargoyle faces on the handles:


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Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 04-25-2013 02:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm mostly just posting this because I'm so excited and thought you folks might enjoy seeing it too. But I do have a few questions.

1. Date? The set has Gorham marks, the model number--210--and an additional number that I think indicates which piece (here it's 5 for the teapot), but no date marks or "sterling." It is a lower model number than my other Gorham spherical tea set, the one with bird legs, which is model 250. I have seen models 211 and 212 here and there online--they are very similar to this set, but they have medallions or classical faces on the handles, which are very slightly different in form, and different finials.

(Here's an example of Pattern 211: Gorham Manufacturing Company )

My guess is that this troll-face set is from the same period as my bird-leg set, the mid-1860s. Anyone disagree?

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Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 04-25-2013 02:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The teapot handle:


Sugar bowl handle:

The gargoyle teapot with the bird-foot teapot:

Agleopar speculated that this is a rare set because who would want to buy a tea set with troll faces on it? (Besides, of course, me!) The only other mention I could find of this pattern is on the forums--apparently this guy has the coffeepot: Coin Silver Gorham Coffee Pot


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Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 04-25-2013 02:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If anyone ever sees the creamer in this pattern, please alert me.

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nutmegr

Posts: 58
Registered: Jun 2005

iconnumber posted 04-25-2013 05:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nutmegr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Beautiful tea set, Polly! Is there also a design around the spout?

(Also,could the "troll" guy be a satyr? It was a fairly common motif, but then again, designers seemed to take a lot of license with classical figures!)

----------------------
Lisa

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Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 04-25-2013 05:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you, Lisa!

Yes, I have been wondering whether those curves on the side of the heads are ears, horns, or some sort of abstract neo-rococo curlicues. A satyr's horns might explain them. But if it's satyrs, I would want to see hoofs.

The spout is plain, with a bit of scrolling at the tip. It seems to be the standard spout for Gorham's spherical patterns. Here's a closer look, with the satyr teapot on the left:

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 04-25-2013 05:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great set.
Great faces. (you should add them to the Great faces thread.)
Satyr - maybe if those are horns.
Troll - it doesn't feel like that to me.
Gargoyle - perhaps

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Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 04-26-2013 11:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks, Scott!

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agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 04-26-2013 01:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
But a gargoyle is a spout and the heads are in the wrong place for that so satyr seems more likely.

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agleopar

Posts: 850
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 04-28-2013 12:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agleopar     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Polly, great images, the face comes alive! Nutmegr has I think hit on their role in life - Satyrs are so much more sexy too so perhaps they did sell more than 3 sets and some day you will find the creamer.

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