Gorham Sterling Silver Marks
Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant asked Gorham to commemorate the country's one-hundredth anniversary in 1875 with a spectacular Century Vase that contained over 2,000 ounces of sterling silver.
Among Gorham's major trophy commissions are the America's Cup for yachting, the Davis Cup for tennis and the Borg-Warner Trophy for the Indianapolis 500. For Gorham items, these marks indicate whether a piece is made from solid sterling silver or is silverplated. They may also include date codes, production numbers, and hallmarks that place the piece within a specific timeframe or product line.
Authentic Gorham silver is identified by the standard Lion, Anchor, and G trademark found on the underside of sterling pieces. Items manufactured between 1868 and 1884 bear a capital letter date code (A-Q), while pieces from 1885 to 1933 feature specific year symbols, such as a wolf or an anchor. When Gorham adopted the sterling standard in 1868, they began a system of year-marks which were stamped into their products to denote the year in which they were made.
Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Guide - Since 1831, Gorham has been a part of America's artistic heritage. With an established tradition of innovation, craftsmanship and value, our silver, china and crystal products have appealed to even the most sophisticated tastes. Dating a piece of Gorham silver is a question of decoding the hallmarks on the back or bottom of each piece.
Hallmarks on the silver pieces were not consistent in the first few years. In 1848, Gorhams silver marks consisted of a lion, an anchor, and the letter G. Find Rare Gorham Sterling SIlverware and Flatware Patterns in this interactive pattern and price guide.
Learn about unique Gorham Silver and Gorham Martele pieces that you didn't even know existed. Here at Biltmore Loan and Jewelry, our appraisal specialists can easily date Gorham silver by identifying the following marks: The earliest mark to pinpoint on Gorham pieces is one that features an anchor in between a lion (on the left side) and a letter G (on the right side). Gorham continues to operate today reflecting the principles of its founders, and it signifies the best in American silverwork comparable to the best of Europe and the far east.
When Gorham adopted the sterling standard in 1868, they began a system of year-marks which were stamped into their products to denote the year in which they were made.
