Covered sugar bowl (with matching teapot)

The seamless hand-raised bodies of these objects offer a clean canvas for the lavish Rococo-revival motifs of branches, leaves, and flowers that erupt into three dimensions and ramble over the curvy forms in an informal, natural manner. Gorham adopted the English sterling standard of 92.5 percent silver alloy in 1868. These two pieces, from what was probably a larger matching service, are made of different alloys. That the teapot bears the quality mark “Sterling” and the sugar bowl “Pure Coin” suggests that the sugar bowl may have been made somewhat earlier. Quality marks such as “Coin,” “Pure Silver Coin,” or “Pure Coin” had been used on American silver since the 1830s.

This text has been adapted from "Silver of the Americas, 1600-2000," edited by Jeannine Falino and Gerald W.R. Ward, published in 2008 by the MFA. Complete references can be found in that publication.