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I've inherited a set of sterling silverware that was originally given to my great-grandparents for their 25th wedding anniversary in 1905. It was purchased from Spaulding & Co. in Chicago. I'm researching the hallmarks and I think that they identify this as being made by Gorham in a pattern (Old French) that was patented in 1904. The mark I don't understand is the H in a diamond to the right of the other marks. What does the 'H' mean? Thank you!

Hi Jim,

Welcome to the Forum.

These marks are a long running mystery, they are Gorham internal marks that used to thought of as weight indicators, eg: 'R' - Regular, 'T' - Trade, 'H' - Heavy, 'E' - Extra, 'M' - Massive, etc, but other letters are also found, they may perhaps relate to the size, eg: Youth, Lunch, Place, Dinner etc.. To my knowledge these code letters have yet to be cracked with any degree of certainty.


Gorham Mfg. Co. - Providence RI - 1898

Trev.

Thank you Trev! FWIW, the 'Old French' pattern was designed by William Christmas Codman. I've just found the US design patent for this pattern: http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=D003 ... first+page

This could be a trick of the lighting, but the hallmarks and patent date information appear to be raised up, in a sort of high relief fashion.
I can't remember ever seeing a Gorham piece with raised hallmarks like this, so I was wondering how rare that little detail would be.
There is a possibility that I am just seeing things, but does it look raised up to anybody else?

Hi Aguest,

These are not hallmarks, maker's marks only, and thus applied as part of the manufacturing process, rather than struck later by an assay office. The marks would have been part of the die and may be cameo or intaglio depending on the die.

For other examples see: Gorham Flatware Code Letters

Trev.