A topic for recording information regarding Graff, Washbourne & Dunn.
Graff, Washbourne & Dunn (Charles Graff, William L. Washbourne, and Clarence A. Dunn) were established in 1899, but the origins of their business can be traced back as far as 1768. They were acquired by Gorham in 1961.
If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.
Charles Graff, of Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, New York, accompanied Mr. Washbourne the past week on a visit to this city, and they proceeded together to Montreal after calling on leading houses in the Boston trade.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th October 1913
William L. Washbourne of 200 West Eighty-sixth Street, a member of the silver-smith firm of Graff, Washbourne and Dunn of 142 West Fourteenth Street, died Thursday night of a heart attack in the Hotel Statler, Boston, where he had been on a business trip, according to word received here yesterday. He was 70 years old.
He leaves a widow; a daughter, Mrs. Irving W. Edwards of Detroit, and a brother, Frederick L. Washbourne, retiring United States Consul at Florence, Italy, now returning to the United States.
D. A. Hoerger Becomes Affiliated with Graff, Washbourne & Dunn
Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, silversmiths, established in New York since 1833, announce the addition to their staff of D. Adelbert Hoerger as designer and advisor, not alone on standard sterling wares, but in other fields where fine craftsmanship in the precious metals is required. Mr. Hoerger comes to Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, 142 W. 14th St., after successfully serving as director of the ecclesiastical division of Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Inc., New York.
A student under Samuel Yellin of Philadelphia and Victor von Lossberg of New York, Mr. Hoerger brings to Graff, Washbourne & Dunn a new viewpoint on silver and a fresh contemporary approach, well grounded in tradition and steeped in the principles and ideals of two of America’s outstanding master craftsmen.
As president of the Society of Designer-Craftsmen of New York, Mr. Hoerger has won the admiration and confidence of all who believe there is a high place in the field of art for the American craftsman. As a craftsman member of the Architectural League of New York, the American Federation of Arts and Crafts and other organizations, Mr. Hoerger has also been recognized for his ability and devotion to American craftsmanship.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular-Keystone - September 1938
According to an announcement made last week the Sweetser Co., silversmith, 129 W. 31st St. is discontinuing the silver business and the firm is being voluntarily dissolved. Emery B. Sweetser, formerly president, has associated himself with The Barbour Silver Co. in the capacity of sales executive and is to aid in the creation of new products. D. Fagan, the former treasurer of the Sweetser Co., has joined the organization of Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, this city, and has assumed a position in their sales and executive department.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd February 1921
Craig Evan Rossi has been appointed vice president in charge of sales of Graff Washbourne & Dunn, Inc., sterling silverware manufacturing firm of Englewood, New Jersey. A graduate of Colgate University, Rossi is no stranger to the firm, having worked there for five summers prior to joining the U. S. Air Force, from which he was recently discharged.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular-Keystone - December 1956
J. C. Batchelder, head of the retail silverware’ department of the Smith-Patterson Co., has been enjoying a cruise along the New England coast with Byron Miller, head of the engraving department, in Mr. Miller’s yacht. They were accompanied by Mr. Washbourne, of Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, New York.
Sterling Silver Model of Ship in Which Columbus Made His Voyage to America to Be Offered as Trophy in Speed Boat Contests
A perfect reproduction in silver of the Santa Maria, the ship on which Christopher Columbus made his voyage to America, has just been completed by the firm of Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, Inc., silversmiths, 142 W. 14th St., New York. So perfect in detail and skill of execution is this ship, which is to be known as the Horace F. Dodge Memorial Trophy for speed boat contests, that experts have voted it one of the finest silver ships in existence.
The trophy, valued at $15,000, is made entirely of sterling silver. It measures about 42 inches in extreme length and about 43 inches in extreme height. The ship is to be presented by Horace E. Dodge, Jr., son of the late automobile maker, to the American Power Boat Association as a trophy for speed boat contests and is to be retained by anyone winning it four times in succession.
The wooden model of the ship was made by Henry B. Culver, who is regarded as the recognized authority on ships models of all periods. Mr. Culver is by profession a lawyer but has made a hobby of the study and making of ships models. In his studies he has the faculty of developing correct historical records and this ship is an absolutely correct representation of a 15th century caravel, such as was Christopher Columbus’ ship, the Santa Maria. The silver ship is an exact reproduction of the wooden model made by Mr. Culver.
It took the concern three months to complete this trophy and except for the hull, which was cast, all the other features are hand fabricated. The ropes and pulleys, rope ladders, sails and flags are all finished in the same perfect detail in silver as was the wooden model. The ship itself rests on a plateau, the body of which is sterling silver, which supports a bronze sea beautifully modeled and colored. Arising from the sea are four well sculptured sea horses which form the support for the ship itself. Around the sides of the silver plateau and done in fine hand chasing are nautical and mythological objects and ornaments. The base is made with a drawer in which is kept a beautiful vellum book, which is provided for the record of the contests for which this ship is the trophy. The silver weight of the ship is over 1,100 ounces, and includes over 400 feet of fine silver rope. Racing title-holders will compete for this trophy. It is illustrated on the cover page of this issue of The Jewelers' Circular.
Experts on ships models, and also on Silversmithing, who have seen this work of art have stated that they have seen no other silver ship which, for perfection of detail and skill of execution, even remotely approaches this one.
Charles W. Hickok, representing Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, left May 22, for the east, where he and his family expect to locate permanently in the near future. Mr. Hickok is gradually recovering from his recent illness, but will not resume business for some time.
Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, Inc., 142-146 W. 14th St., silversmiths; have just completed the John D. Chapman Memorial Trophy cup, valued at $750 retail, for the Greenwich Country Club, Greenwich, Conn. The order was placed by Alfred Morell, of 608 Fifth Ave. The cup, one of the quality pieces of the year, is in Sterling silver and stands 21 inches high. It is hand-chased in an acanthus leaf design, with the motif carried out in repoussé relief. This trophy, instead of becoming the property of the winners of the tournament, will be retained by the club, while gold medals bearing a basrelief likeness of the late Mr. Chapman will be given to the two winners each year, the latter's names being engraved on the cup.
