Gorham Japanesque Coffee Spoons in Original Case

Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, Rhode Island (Retailed New York City) c.1880

An extremely innovative and quite likely unique creation, this set of demi-tasse spoons was obviously inspired by various foliate and aquatic leaf, branch and stem forms. The gilt-embossed Gorham label inside of the fitted case with its Union Square address, as well as the style of these spoons themselves (which are related to the well-known and more prolific Narragansett pattern), would suggest that these were made around 1880. Their original cost of $14.00, indicated on the case’s handwritten price tag, would – by comparison with other similar pieces from the period – suggest that these, although diminutive, were considered very special creations of the creative silversmiths of the Gorham firm.