A Rare American Silver and Enamel Oriental Style Coffee Pot, Gorham Mfg. Co, Providence R.I., 1897, the enamels Japanese
Auction Closed
January 20, 04:11 PM GMT
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
of slender baluster form with onion-dome cover, long swan-neck spout and loop handle, applied with single flowerheads and bouquets and wreathes of Chrysanthemums and peonies, one with dragonfly, another with butterfly, all decorated with shaded polychrome enamel, with Japanese signature Jyuryuken Yoshinobuzo and owner’s initials in Japanese-look characters, marked on base with Gorham date code (trident) for 1897 and special order number 8737, the latter repeated on a tab inside the cover
28 oz. 10 dwt. gross, 886 g
Height: 13 in., 30 cm
Although the shape of this pot is derived from Turkish examples, it is one of a small number of articles made by Gorham and decorated in Japan in 1897-98. Spencer Gordon and Mark McHugh traced Gorham's "Japanese Work" commission in an article for The Magazine Antiques in February, 2018.
//www.themagazineantiques.com/ar༒ticle/global-exchange/
Gorham records suggest that A.A. Vantine & Co., an import gallery in Manhattan who supplied collectors such as Mary Jane Morgan, may be served as the intermediary. Spencer Marks handled a vase now in the Metropolitan Museum, Gorham sample number 8727 and trident date code for 1897, that belongs to this gro𒈔up.
//www.spencermarks.com/products/gorham-japanese-work-antique♛-sterling-silver-and-enamel-sample-vase-providence-ri-1897-98
They also handled a three-piece tea set now 🅠in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, decorated with cloisonné enamel. This set was numbered 8768, not far the present number 8737. It carried the same trident date code for 1897. However, Spencer Marks found the Gorham costing slip dated December 12 1898, indicating the time to send to Japan, decorate and return. Another vase
//www.spencermarks.com/products/gorham-japanese-work-antiqu𓆉e-sterling-silver-and-enamel-sample-vase-providence-ri-1897-98
They also cite a New York Times article "Silver for American Tables," published at that time, 11 December 1898, p.20., it is written, “Designs for almost every country are produced here except Japan….✨ When an American manufacturer wishes Japanese designs made for his own silver he sends it to Japan.” It seems that this plan may have been used𓄧 for the difficult enamel work, whereas other Japanese style pieces could be made locally, such as the mixed metal articles and lacquer finishes, techniques which their workshop had mastered.
To this group can probably also be added a vase tha🌊t sold Bonham's New York, 8 October 2023, lot 480, from 1897 with Gorham sample number 8882 and "complete with Japane🎃se signature."
//cars.bonhams.com/auction/28631/lot/480/gorha𒁏m-enameled-sterling-silver-vase/
