Photo Credit: sterlingmasters
Champlevé Enamel & Sterling Silver Gorham Dessert Set
Buy It Now Price: $1,395 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Here is a very rare champlevé enamel and parcel-gilt sterling silver Gorham dessert set, consisting of 11 scalloped spoons and one cake or ice cream serving knife. This unusual set originates from the 1880s, during the Victorian era.
-The spoons in this set each measure approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm) long, while the server is 9.125 inches (23.2 cm) long by 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) across. The total weight of this Gorham dessert set is 302 grams (9.71 troy ounces) of sterling silver.
-During the Victorian period, silverware sets were created for every possible situation. One of these was the dessert, ice cream or fruit set. As the names imply, these silver flatware sets were specially manufactured for use with dessert. This could range from cakes or tarts to puddings, trifles or ice cream. A luscious spread of fresh fruit was also a favorite Victorian dessert.
-The Gorham Manufacturing Company is one of the most desirable makers of antique silver. The firm was founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1831 and eventually came to dominate the high-end U.S. silverware market in the late 19th to early 20th century. The company ceased to be independent in 1967, causing quality to gradually erode after that time.
-Enamel is a very challenging material to work with. It requires the meticulous application of powdered glass to a carefully prepared metal surface. The item is then fired in a furnace at very high temperatures (usually 750 to 850 °C or 1,380 and 1,560 °F) which allows the powdered glass to melt and flow over the object. This creates a smooth, colorful enamel surface that contrasts beautifully with any surrounding metal.
-The bowls of the spoons in this Gorham dessert set are gilt. This was fairly common among dessert sets because they would oftentimes come into contact with acidic fruits, especially citrus. Regardless, it is a wonderful touch that indicates a high quality set of sterling silver.
-Champlevé is a particular enamel technique where a flat metal surface has a myriad of different cells carved into it. These cells delineate the object’s design and each one is filled with a specific color of powdered glass, as required. The item is then fired at high temperature as with other types of enamel. Champlevé enamel was especially popular in Europe during the early medieval period and is often associated with Romanesque art.
-Most antique sterling silver sets were made from patterns – designs that were reproduced in quantity for decades after they were initially created. However, this champlevé enamel and sterling silver Gorham dessert set is almost certainly a very low production or one-of-a-kind set, making it extremely desirable.
-I love the opulent, medieval-inspired trefoil design of this sterling silver Gorham dessert set. The lavish enamel-work, with its combination of royal blue and golden-yellow, also really makes the pattern pop.
-Given its magnificent condition, prestigious maker and obvious rarity, I believe that this Gorham dessert set is worth the $1,395 asking price. However, you can always make the seller a lower offer if the stated price is too high for you.
Cons:
-The ornate and florid decoration typical of antique Victorian silver is very much out of style right now. This means this Gorham ice cream set is less valuable than it would be otherwise at the moment. Of course, it also means that you can pick it up for a good price. And, if you are willing to wait long enough, Victorian silver is sure to come back into vogue eventually.
-There is no way around it; this Gorham dessert set is pricey. If we allot $295 of the asking price to the serving piece, it means that the seller wants $100 for each spoon in the set. This is easily 2 to 3 times more than other sterling silver Victorian teaspoons commonly sell for. However, this particular dessert set is not only very rare, but also superlative in terms of its quality. In the end, I have found that buying “best of the best” antiques is often a worthwhile investment strategy.
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