AN AMERICAN SILVER MARTEL SAUCEBOAT ON SAUCEBOAT TRAY AND SAUCE LADLE*

MAKER'S MARK OF GORHAM, FOR SPAULDING & CO., CIRCA 1900, AND WITH SPREAD WINGED EAGLE AND LION ANCHOR G + 950-1000 FINE, BELL (FOR 1900) AND NUMBER 9804; THE STAND NUMBER 9805; THE LADLE MARTEL, NUMBER 2684, AND SPAULDING & CO CHICAGO ON OTHER SIDE OF ST

細節
AN AMERICAN SILVER MARTEL SAUCEBOAT ON SAUCEBOAT TRAY AND SAUCE LADLE*
Maker's mark of Gorham, for Spaulding & Co., circa 1900, and with spread winged eagle and Lion anchor G + 950-1000 FINE, bell (for 1900) and number 9804; the stand number 9805; the ladle martel, number 2684, and SPAULDING & CO CHICAGO on other side of stem
The sauceboat molded oval, chased with large exotic fish and sea plants, on molded quatrefoil base, with rocaille molded spout and rim, the handle decorated with further sea foliage, the border to the tray similarly decorated with serpentine molded rim, the sauceboat length over handle and spout--8in. (20.9cm.) and 5in. (12.7cm.) high; the sauceboat tray--8in. (20.9cm.) long; the sauce ladle with gilt bowl, with gilt interior to bowl, each piece engraved with monogram on underside--32oz. (3)

拍品專文

The costing slips from for the sauceboat on sauceboat stand are in the Gorham Archives (box 48), and indicate that this special order from Spaulding and Co. was completed March 10, 1900. A costing slip was generated for each piece made and recorded every stage of production. There are three stages: the making, the chasing and the finishing. The slips detail the costs, time and the chaser's number. The set was made in the style of a previously made sample, stamped no. 2680 in oval.

The sauceboat contains 17 troy oz. 1 pennyweight of silver valued at $15.35. A silversmith in the P P room (experimental silversmith's workshop), took 36 hours to fashion, costing $16.20. It was chased by Chaser number 36, a Mr. G.A. Achillertim. We know very little about this man. He was employed by Gorham Feb. 5, 1899, and left June 24, 1903. During the 4 years he was at Gorham he worked on a number of pieces, including the dressing table showed at the Paris Exposition in 1900. This sauce boat on sauceboat tray, which was already in private hands, was lent to Gorham to display at the Paris Exposition. Edward Holbrook hand chose the items for the Paris Exposition. It is extraordinary that he selected an item already sold. Mr. Achillertim spent 22 hours in executing the decoration (at $11.00). The net factory price was set at $84.

The sauceboat tray, number 9805, was weighed at 11 troy oz. 3 pennyweight, which valued at $10.03. It was fashioned in 12 hours, costing $5.40. Mr. Achillertim chased the piece in 10 hours. The net factory price for the sauceboat tray was $44, bringing the total of the set to Spaulding at $128.

I thank Mr. Samuel Hough for his detailed help in cataloguing these martel pieces.