AN AMERICAN SILVER MARTEL FISH SLICE AND FORK*

MAKER'S MARK OF GORHAM MFG. CO., CIRCA 1899, THE SLICE STRUCK WITH A SICKLE AND NUMBER 2241; THE FORK NUMBER 2241

細節

AN AMERICAN SILVER MARTEL FISH SLICE AND FORK*
Maker's mark of Gorham Mfg. Co., circa 1899, the slice struck with a sickle and number 2241; the fork number 2241
Each with serpentine handle decorated with exotic fish amid waves and sea plants, the reverses decorated with sea plants, the blade border with undulating fish; the fork with four tines and part decorated bowl the fish slice--12in. (30.5cm.) long; the fork 8in. (20.9cm.) long, 13oz. (2)

拍品專文

According to Samuel J. Hough, these were completed 16 October 1899, referring to special Martel costing books; weighed 14 troy oz. 3 pennyweight of .950 grade silver, valued at $12.83 and reduced in the making to 14/2. Casting took two and a half hours (cost: $1.25), chasing required five hours ($3.00), a silversmith worked three and a half hours to fashion the pieces ($1.58). Total direct silver and labor costs were $17.86, plus overhead ($3.57), profit ($7.14), and Admin. costs ($1.43) for a sum of $30.00 net factory price for the knife--$20.00, for the fork--$16.00.