Hello!
I have 12 sterling place forks by Gorham (Chantilly). 6 have the Pat 1895 mark and to the left there is the letter "T" in a vertical diamond.
The others are marked "Gorham Sterling" and have the letter "P" to the right, in a diamond.
Could someone tell me what letter marks indicate?
Many thanks!
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T and P on Gorham flatware
I have six, four-piece place settings of the vintage Gorham Chantilly sterling flatware all pieces stampted with "Pat. 1895 lion/anchor/G Sterling" with the Blunt Hollow Knife with Bolster sterling handle but stainless steal blade, and I have another six, six-piece place settings of the newer 1904-1950 pieces marked simply "Gorham Sterling" with the letter "P" to the right in a vertical diamond on the knives and dinner forks.
My research of Gorham Sterling has revealed that the "T" in a vertical diamond means the weight of the silver is "Trade" and indicates flatware quality as opposed to mark the five weights used in "Trade, Medium, Heavy, or Extra Heavy". The "P" in the diamond indicates the size of the piece to be "Place" size setting which indicates that this "P" size was that of a few eights of an inch smaller for the dinner knife and the dinner fork as opposed to the full size dinner knife and fork, or the luncheon size, or the youth size. The matching teaspoons and the salad/fish forks are consistently the same size which is why they are not marked with the "P". The "P" Place size was one that was usually reserved for the size offered in the bridal registery in department stores.
Posting Requirements
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My research of Gorham Sterling has revealed that the "T" in a vertical diamond means the weight of the silver is "Trade" and indicates flatware quality as opposed to mark the five weights used in "Trade, Medium, Heavy, or Extra Heavy". The "P" in the diamond indicates the size of the piece to be "Place" size setting which indicates that this "P" size was that of a few eights of an inch smaller for the dinner knife and the dinner fork as opposed to the full size dinner knife and fork, or the luncheon size, or the youth size. The matching teaspoons and the salad/fish forks are consistently the same size which is why they are not marked with the "P". The "P" Place size was one that was usually reserved for the size offered in the bridal registery in department stores.
Posting Requirements
.