Gorham Spoons: Sterling Souvenirs from a Bygone Era by Chris A. McGlothlin
Gorham Spoons: Sterling Souvenirs from a Bygone Era includes essentially every souvenir spoon—well over a thousand different designs—made by Gorham Mfg. Co., once the world’s largest silver manufacturer. Each spoon is shown in actual size, those with enamel and many others are depicted in full color, and all are accompanied by much heretofore unknown information. For example, for almost every spoon the reader will learn the name of the jeweler who was its retailer, how much it cost him to have his spoons produced, when the spoon was first made and how long orders for it continued, the quantity of silver required per spoon or per dozen spoons, variations that were made, and on and on. Enough production information has been gathered to give the collector a good idea as to the approximate number made and, for quite a few designs, the exact number made. To aid collectors and dealers in evaluating their spoons, every spoon has been given a rarity rating (ranging from commonness to extreme rarity). The book’s Introduction explains why so many Gorham spoons were cast in molds rather than struck with dies, what the numbers on spoon reverses mean, how Gorham dealt with the jewelers they serviced, and much, much more. As a bonus, there are also some enlightening tidbits in the Foreword written by Gorham expert Sam Hough. The book’s approximately 120,000 words of text and 1,500 high-resolution photographs are presented beautifully on 400 extra-thick glossy pages within a silver-stamped linen-wrapped hard cover. This nearly seven-pound reference is a must for collectors, dealers, and anyone who appreciates great silver design. Not only is it a wonderful reference, it also makes a beautiful coffee table book.