Have an old set of sterling, "Gorham Sterling"....

[applecrisp]

I decided to Spring clean my "black hole of a hall closet" and pulled out the partial set of sterling silverware that I was given 15+ years ago from a relative.

I just took a a look at a small fork and it says "Gorham Sterling" on it. I did a quick computer search and there were tons of hits -- with a huge range in age from mid 1800s to mid 1900's. Replacement.com had pages and pages.

I have no clue on what the value might be. Will I be one of those that faints on Antique Roadshow? :D

I have no idea on how oild it might be, 60 years? but who knows it could be much older.

The fork says "Gorham" but is there anyway to narrow it down?

Thanks.

[Beth]

You can make a photo or photo copy of it and send it to Replacements (fax, email or whatever) and they will identify it for you. Someone who has worked with silver and china for a while (doing bridal registries, for example) might also take a look at it for you.

[applecrisp]

Thanks Beth for the info. I just checked out their site for instructions.

I'm going to send a photocopy tomorrow.

Thanks again!

[funniegrrl]

Gorham is a very well-known silver company -- their stuff DOES pop up on Antiques Roadshow on occasion. Not to say that your pieces have extraordinary value, but they are probably decent quality.

Keep in mind that replacements.com is very expensive if you were to try to buy pieces from them to complete the set. Once you know what it is and if you want to build up rather than sell, you can find pieces at better prices elsewhere.

[Robyncz]

If you posted a picture here, chances are one of us could id the pattern, at least.

[blazedog]

Gorham, as FG wrote, is good quality but is unlikely to command super high prices -- especially if it is one of styles that has lost favor. It was the kind of silverware that the middle class bought.

I inherited my grandmother's service when my mother died and it just sits in the closet. I tried using it for every day but I actually enjoyed the feel of the stainless I bought 30 years ago so the stuff I pulled out went back in the closet.

It's not really worth enough for me to think about selling since I would get low wholesale price for it at best. I will probably wind up gifting it to someone in the family eventually as a wedding present since its value to someone who wants sterling service (plus the sentimental value) is more than the relatively paltry sum I could get.

There is the shabby chic style of using mismatched sterling pieces. My friend used to buy up stuff at flea markets and it was amazing how low the prices would be for a piece absent a really famous name like Tiffany, Christofle or Georg Jensen -- wish my mother had followed her OWN taste and bought Jensen instead of inheriting my grandmother's ongepaotchket set. :D

[funniegrrl]

There is the shabby chic style of using mismatched sterling pieces.

The thing is, it's not just shabby chic style, but it's something the multi-generational wealthy set do. The idea is that you have stuff passed down from various relatives from generations back that is high-quality, so you don't toss it out and get new just so it will match. That's such a bourgeois concept! :D Same with antique furniture and the like.

[blazedog]

The thing is, it's not just shabby chic style, but it's something the multi-generational wealthy set do. The idea is that you have stuff passed down from various relatives from generations back that is high-quality, so you don't toss it out and get new just so it will match. That's such a bourgeois concept! :D Same with antique furniture and the like.

With furniture, it's eclectic style. :p

I don't think mismatched sterling flatware is traditionally chic in the same way traditionally because the truly wealthy had enormous number of place settings for their parties which did match.

I do understand the whole interesting phenomena of the "reverse chic frugality" practiced by Northeastern WASP and old Southern families -- and their outposts in places like Burlingame.

[applecrisp]

Funniergrl --Thanks for the info. I've never heard of Gorham before.

Robyncz -- Thanks for the offer, but my camera is on the blink.

Blazedog -- My mom had Georg. Jensen stainless that I love. It's a super modern look. And, ongepaotchket (a word I've never seen written before) is much loved expression in my family. :D

I already have two sets of silver plate, the Gorham set of silver --- all stashed in my closet. All from relatives.

I was just curious on what the value might be for the Gorham set, especially since I don't really care for it. And, I know one day I will have my mom's silver which is beautiful and would mean something to me.

Thanks again everyone.

[blazedog]

Blazedog -- My mom had Georg. Jensen stainless that I love. It's a super modern look. And, ongepaotchket (a word I've never seen written before) is much loved expression in my family. :D


I WISH my mother had gone with the Jensen sterling - if she had only followed her heart instead of letting my grandmother decide what each of the daughters would "collect". :p

She did manage to get some Jensen jewelry as well as Rebajes but only on the "side".:p