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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 A Curator's Viewpoint
 Gorham Versailles
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| Author | Topic: Gorham Versailles |
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lisar Posts: 4 |
posted 04-30-2003 07:36 PM
  
What makes Gorham's Versailles pattern from 1880 more valuable than the modern day Versailles pattern? IP: Logged |
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Stephen Posts: 625 |
posted 05-04-2003 07:15 AM
Are these two different patterns? IP: Logged |
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lisar Posts: 4 |
posted 05-04-2003 07:37 AM
quote: No, they are both Gorham Versaiiles. The former is from 1888, the pattern was discontinued for a period of time, then reintroduced. The second version of the pattern was made in 1991. I am not sure if one is worth more than the other or not. Per [snip], they are similar in price. But, I would think that older silver is more valuable? What do you think? IP: Logged |
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Stephen Posts: 625 |
posted 05-05-2003 06:24 AM
I looked at Versailles teaspoons. Replacements is actually charging about five percent more for the "new" teaspoons so apparently they don't think so. Note that their prices are also about five times as much as the average price realized on eBay. I think a Versaille collector needs to jump in here. IP: Logged |
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Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 05-05-2003 09:12 AM
From a curatorial perspective, the 1991 re-issue of Versailles has no intrinsic aesthetic or historic value, hence would be less desirable than "first period" Versailles. I can't imagine a collector (rather than just a consumer) of Versailles, wouldn't feel the same. This is a parallel issue with both Tiffany's "Audubon" (originally Japanese, which is still made today) and all of Georg Jensen's flatware and silver. A curator wants pieces that are historically connected with the time at which they were designed--ie they want them to have been made relatively close to the time they were designed, when they were still "new." Secondly, the dies for an elaborate pattern such as "Versailles" would inevitably have "blurred" or gone dull over the decades, and therefore the restrikes would probably be less good than the originals--unless Gorham recut the dies, in which case they're not the same anyway. The new "Versailles" is essentially a reproduction--even tho' produced by the same maker with the same dies. It does not have the authenticity of the original issue of the flatware. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 05-05-2003 09:50 AM
I've also found that reissues tend to be a bit less sharp in their details - even when they use freshly recut dies. As was said, it could be due to using worn dies, but even with recut new dies they just don't seem to have quite the same feel and presence that the old ones do. I think it is because they try to keep the prices down and profits up by not putting in as much time to making and finishing them. I think that the reason why Replacements and others charge a bit more for new ones is that the bulk of the clients are looking for flatware to complete or expand a set that is for use and people want things that are new and shiney rather than old and warmly glowing. IP: Logged |
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Bob and Carol Carnighan Posts: 63 |
posted 05-05-2003 10:28 PM
We would have agreed with previous comments. Rocky's Gold and Silver placed an order for St. Cloud luncheon forks with Gorham many years ago. Recently the order was delivered. These forks frequently appear on Ebay mainly from Rocky. We recently had a chance to drop by Rocky's and discuss this with the owner. The new forks are TOO crisp and sharp. They instantly feel different from all other St. Cloud. You feel as if you might cut yourself. They are crudely finished with file and die marks. We now believe that in the olden days, the freshly stamped piece was buffed before sale. IP: Logged |
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