How do I identify Gorham sterling silver?

How do I identify Gorham sterling silver?

All American sterling silver is marked “Sterling” and sometimes also has “925” or “925/1,000” in the mark, to indicate sterling silver. If you have an item with the Gorham three-symbol mark, and it doesn’t say “Sterling,” or “Martelé,” it is silver-plated.

Is Gorham silver valuable?

Recent examples with strong provenance have sold for over $20,000, though many smaller pieces have sold between $1,000 to $10,000 dollars, depending on demand and condition.

How can you tell if a platter is real silver?

How to Tell If an Item Is Made of Real Silver

1. Look for markingsor stamps on the silver. Silver will often be stampedwith 925, 900, or 800.
2. Test it with a magnet. Silver, like most preciousmetals, is nonmagnetic.
3. Sniff it.
4. Polish it with a soft white cloth.
5. Put a piece of ice on it.

When did Gorham make silverplate?

Jabez Gorham founded Gorham Silver in 1843 in Providence, Rhode Island. The company originally made coin-silver flatware, but it expanded to make sterling silver items in 1868.

Is Gorham silver sterling silver?

Beginning in 1863, Gorham became a powerhouse in plated silver, and it left coin silver behind for sterling silver in 1868, producing everything from flatware such as knives, forks, and spoons to hollowware pieces ranging from coffee pots to serving bowls.

What does EP mean on Gorham silver?

Gorham is the name of a silver company based in Rhode Island. Many silver plated items bear the marks ‘EPNS’ that stand for Electro Plated Nickel Silver or ‘EP’ for Electro Plate.

Is Gorham real silver?

While Jabez Gorham and Henry Webster produced the first pieces from coin-silver in 1831, some people choose to concentrate on the period after designer William J. Codman joined the company in 1891. Most of those pieces were made from sterling silver.

Is Gorham a good brand?

The dealers who trade in the company’s silver today have a deep affection for it. “Gorham is always of good quality,” says Steve Nelson, of Nelson & Nelson Antiques.

Does silver plate have hallmarks?

Silver is a soft metal which is used to make jewellery and objects. Silver plate items will not have a 925 stamp or a hallmark.

What markings are on real silver?

American sterling silver is marked with one of the following hallmarks: “925,” “. 925,” or “S925.” the 925 indicates that the piece contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Sterling silver items made in the UK contain a stamp of a lion.

Is Gorham heritage real silver?

Being able to identify a piece of sterling silver, whether it is a silver plate mark or a tea set, as a Gorham piece is fairly simple thanks to the consistent silver markings that were used during the manufacturing of the pieces.

What are the hallmarks on Gorham Silver pieces?

Hallmarks on the silver pieces were not consistent in the first few years. In 1848, Gorham silver marks consisted of a lion, anchor, and the letter “ G.” Then, from 1848 through about 1860, the lion marking faced left, but instead of their previous direction, facing right.

How can you tell if a Gorham tea set is sterling silver?

Let’s dive further into the Gorham sterling silver identification over the years… Being able to identify a piece of sterling silver, whether it is a silver plate mark or a tea set, as a Gorham piece is fairly simple thanks to the consistent silver markings that were used during the manufacturing of the pieces.

When did Gorham stop using the year mark?

This dating system was used also on silver plate items. The use of the year mark was suspended until 1941, at which time Gorham silver adopted a system of marking their ” important pieces” with polygonal figures sorrounding a numeral.

When was the shamrock added to Gorham Silver?

By 1868, additions to existing Gorham silver marks were necessary thanks to the company’s adoption of sterling silver wares. As such, each year of production between 1868 and 1884 was noted with a capital letter. Gorham silver marks bearing a shamrock, denoting the year 1913.