GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Once the largest and one of the most successful silver firms, Gorham Manufacturing Company was founded in 1831 by Jabez Gorham (1792-1869), a native of Providence, Rhode Island who completed a seven-year apprenticeship to Nehemiah Dodge. His first venture following the completion of his apprenticeship was a partnership with Christopher Burr, William Hadwen, George C. Clark, and Harvey G. Mumford known as "The Firm," which produced jewelry including the popular "Gorham chain" between 1815 and 1818. In 1831, Jabez Gorham and Henry Webster founded Gorham & Webster, a manufacturing company that specialized in coin silver spoons. The company name changed to Gorham, then Webster & Price in 1837 when William G. Price became a partner, and to J. Gorham & Son when Jabez Gorham's son John Gorham (1820-1898) joined the company.
John Gorham expanded the company by establishing a larger manufactory and introducing factory methods and steam-powered machines, many of which he designed. In 1850, two years following Jabez Gorham's 1848 retirement, John Gorham's cousin Gorham Thuber became a partner and, consequently, the company name changed to Gorham & Thuber. By 1852, it was Gorham & Company. By, 1865, it was Gorham Manufacturing Company. During the late 19th century, the company produced wares in a variety of revival and international styles, including those produced for exhibition at world's fairs. Gorham received numerous awards for their designs, including the Grand Prix at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris for the Art Nouveau Martelé line designed by chief designer William C. Codman (1839-1921). In addition to one-of-a-kind designs, the company also produced mass-produced lines, such as Chantilly, the most popular line of flatware ever made.
During the 20th century, the company hired other important designers, including Erik Magnussen (1884-1961), who introduced designs in an Art Deco style. While production slowed during World War II, it resumed in the 1950s. The company purchased Quaaker Silver Company in 1959, Friedman Company in 1960, and Graff, Washbourne & Dunn in 1961, when its name changed to Gorham Corporation. Now based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey as well as Providence, Rhode Island, Gorham Corporation's brands include Lenox, Dansk, and Brooks Bentley.
Drawn from
- Gerald W. R. Ward, "Gorham," Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online, Oxford University Press, accessed February 20, 2015, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T033347.
- Dorothy T. Rainwater, Martin Fuller, and Colette Fuller, Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers (Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2004), 90-92.
- DMA COLLECTION SMARTPHONE TOUR 2012 (file: collections_2012_gorham.mp3)
NOTES
- formatting fixed and rule written by HAB 4/13/17
- video asset? moved to notes by HAB 4/13/17:
[INSERT UMO]
Video accompanying wall panel "The American Silver Industry 1840-1925" (file: Gorham_SilverIndustry_2011.mp4)
[This segment is excerpted from a promotional film on silver design and production at Gorham Manufacturing Company, Providence, Rhode Island, 1927. Many of the techniques shown remained largely unchanged from the latter half of the 19th century. (silent, running time 19 minutes)
Film courtesy Samuel J. Hough, Owl at the Bridge]
ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS (list applicable note links)
AUDIO ASSETS
44997793: UMO
Learn about the Gorham Manufacturing Company
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
265932315:UMO. [Caption] Gorham Manufacturing Company, 1886 engraving. Source: "The Providence Plantations for 250 Years" (1886), p. 274., Welcome Arnold Greene, Wikimedia Commons, accessed July 15, 2016.
EXTERNAL WEB RESOURCES
Brown University Library~Explore the Gorham Company Records.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
set operator as OR
apply to objects where constituent_id equals 236
apply to constituents where id equals 236
Category
rules_operator
OR
General Description
Once the largest and one of the most successful silver firms, Gorham Manufacturing Company was founded in 1831 by Jabez Gorham (1792-1869), a native of Providence, Rhode Island who completed a seven-year apprenticeship to Nehemiah Dodge. His first venture following the completion of his apprenticeship was a partnership with Christopher Burr, William Hadwen, George C. Clark, and Harvey G. Mumford known as "The Firm," which produced jewelry including the popular "Gorham chain" between 1815 and 1818. In 1831, Jabez Gorham and Henry Webster founded Gorham & Webster, a manufacturing company that specialized in coin silver spoons. The company name changed to Gorham, then Webster & Price in 1837 when William G. Price became a partner, and to J. Gorham & Son when Jabez Gorham's son John Gorham (1820-1898) joined the company.
John Gorham expanded the company by establishing a larger manufactory and introducing factory methods and steam-powered machines, many of which he designed. In 1850, two years following Jabez Gorham's 1848 retirement, John Gorham's cousin Gorham Thuber became a partner and, consequently, the company name changed to Gorham & Thuber. By 1852, it was Gorham & Company. By, 1865, it was Gorham Manufacturing Company. During the late 19th century, the company produced wares in a variety of revival and international styles, including those produced for exhibition at world's fairs. Gorham received numerous awards for their designs, including the Grand Prix at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris for the Art Nouveau Martelé line designed by chief designer William C. Codman (1839-1921). In addition to one-of-a-kind designs, the company also produced mass-produced lines, such as Chantilly, the most popular line of flatware ever made.
During the 20th century, the company hired other important designers, including Erik Magnussen (1884-1961), who introduced designs in an Art Deco style. While production slowed during World War II, it resumed in the 1950s. The company purchased Quaaker Silver Company in 1959, Friedman Company in 1960, and Graff, Washbourne & Dunn in 1961, when its name changed to Gorham Corporation. Now based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey as well as Providence, Rhode Island, Gorham Corporation's brands include Lenox, Dansk, and Brooks Bentley.
Drawn from
- Gerald W. R. Ward, "Gorham," Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online, Oxford University Press, accessed February 20, 2015, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T033347.
- Dorothy T. Rainwater, Martin Fuller, and Colette Fuller, Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers (Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2004), 90-92.
- DMA COLLECTION SMARTPHONE TOUR 2012 (file: collections_2012_gorham.mp3)
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- formatting fixed and rule written by HAB 4/13/17
- video asset? moved to notes by HAB 4/13/17:
[INSERT UMO]
Video accompanying wall panel "The American Silver Industry 1840-1925" (file: Gorham_SilverIndustry_2011.mp4)
[This segment is excerpted from a promotional film on silver design and production at Gorham Manufacturing Company, Providence, Rhode Island, 1927. Many of the techniques shown remained largely unchanged from the latter half of the 19th century. (silent, running time 19 minutes)
Film courtesy Samuel J. Hough, Owl at the Bridge]
rules
Apply To
Constituents
id
Equals
236
source file
artists_and_designers-0276.xml.nores