Description
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1189611/A.LincolnteacoffeGorham.jpg
Additional photos to be found here:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1189611/Gohamset.jpg
IMPORTANT GORHAM c1859 MRS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN COIN SILVER TEA AND COFFEE SERVICE; GORHAM'S FAMOUS PATTERN NUMBER "30", ILLUSTRATED IN CARPENTER'S "GORHAM SILVER"
Each piece masterfully
Each piece masterfully crafted in raised ovoid form.
Sharply tapering to thick, stepped, beaded circular base.
Most unique, banded and bead shoulder. Here, single beads placed at considerable distance from one another.
Raised beaded upper rim.
Richly ornamented handles and spout.
Subtle, intentional design variations among the pieces. Gives the set even more visual and collector appeal.
For example, the waste bowl with curled vine framed, spread satin chased leaf handles. In contrast, the sugar bowl displays similar, though more elaborate handles. Here the leaves are extended and softly curving downward. Terminating in "scroll and bar". Joined to elegant, panel engraved anthemion joins.
Tea and coffee pots with long, sweeping upward spouts. Both chased leaf cap and leaf "surround", curled backward at the tip. Followed by thick, beaded "collar".
Remainder of the spout with rough, pebble chased side panels and ruffled leaf mount.
The cream pitcher with covered spout. Quite rare. Equally as ornate, with chased leaf and vine cap and raised "clover" mount below.
Tall, high arched leaf and collar cap and embellished handles. Stylized "arrow head" lower join.
High domed, recessed circular covers. Well fit. Topped with unique bell cap, button and bead form finials. On raised urn pedestal base.
Monogrammed Gothic "CMT".
This rare, c1859 Mrs. Abraham Lincoln Gorham coin silver cream pitcher is 8 inches tall, 5 1/2 handle to spout 15 1/2 ounces.
Waste bowl 6 inches diameter, 5 1/2 tall, 16 1/2 ounces.
The sugar 9 1/2 inches tall, 7 diameter and 25 ounces. Yes, 25 ounces.
The teapot 9 3/4 inches tall, 9 1/2 handle to spout, 33 ounces.
The coffee pot is 10 1/4 inches tall, 9 1/4 handle to spout and weighs 33 ounces.
The entire set crafted of exceptionally thick, heavy guage coin silver. The set weighs 123 ounces. One of the heaviest, most substantial five piece mid 19th century American coin sets we have ever encountered.
Each of the five pieces in the set is in excellent condition. Appears little, if ever used. Rich, lustreous silver patina throughout. The extensive leaf and vine embellished spouts and handles retain their original crisp, vibrant hand chased detail. Handles secure. Covers fit snugly. Few tiny pin head size indents. And couple of very shallow pinky size impressions. None of these at all distracting.
Each of the five pieces fully hallmarked under base as shown. Including Gorham's exceptionally early, and famous pattern number "30", "Gorham & Co.", trademark lion, anchor and Gothic "G", and "COIN". This precise hallmark is illustrated in Carpenter page 229, and indicates c1859 crafting.
This is a lovely set, but it
This is a lovely set, but it is not rare, the mark on yours was used as late as 1865. Another Gorham & Company set identical to yours sold back in January at the Phoebus Auction Gallery for $1700.00. So what you paid is very close to the low retail value for this set. That being said, a lot depends on the demand in your area for such an item.
LovejoyÂ
Many thanks Lovejoy for
Many thanks Lovejoy for finding this set. It is however, not an identical set, but rather the very same set as the one we purchased. The very same Gothic three letter monogram, “C M T” is present on this set sold by Phoebus Auction Gallery, lot number 24 on January of 2007:Â
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2916901/
I have heard from others that our set is not rare, and was popular during the Civil War...but we have been unable to locate another set that is truly, another set. We don’t think for a minute that our set is unique, but nothing we have learned thus far supports any claims that it was popular, and currently, not rare.  Â
Once again, many thanks for your finding this missing piece of provenance to our set. Your time and effort is very much appreciated. If anyone else is able to supply information about another coffee and tea set of pattern #30 Gorham that isn’t our set, we would love to hear about it.Â