Is this Compote/Dish from Gorham?

sol7 · Post by **sol7** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:51 pm

I have a compote that I believe is Gorham. It has the Lion/Anchor/G hallmark. I was told it was silverplate. I don't recall ever see or reading anywhere that Gorham used those hallmarks on plated items.

A Google search of the name stamped in the bottom, T. Kirkpatrick N.Y., showed that he was a retailer in NYC in the 1870's. I found this interesting article from 1871:

NY Times Archive

Is it indeed Gorham? If so, any idea on age and whether it is sterling or coin?

See pictures here:

Pictures

Post by **2209patrick** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:53 am

That's a 19th century Gorham mark. Don't know if they used this set of marks on coin silver.
They did not use these marks on silverplate.

http://www.925-1000.com/Gorham_Date_Code.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pat.

sol7 · Post by **sol7** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:55 am

That is what I thought. Having it appraised threw me for a loop because he said it was plate.

Thanks

kerangoumar · Post by **kerangoumar** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:58 pm

That's a hilarious article from the Times...plus ca change...

Post by **admin** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:31 pm

Hi,
Certainly not a plate mark, Gorham did use this mark on both sterling & coin silver. The style, lack of date mark & lack of sterling mark all indicate that your compote was probably made within a couple of years of Gorham's 1868 changeover from coin to sterling standard. Nice example and thanks for the Times link.
Regards, Tom

sol7 · Post by **sol7** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:30 am

I was thinking it could have been during their coin to sterling transition. It's just nice to get some second opinions.

The NY Times article was amusing. I think the Times is starting to put their archives online. A search of the name last year found nothing useful.

Thanks for the help
John