Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: So this is a Gorham sterling silver water pitcher.

It is dated 1893 on the bottom, November 8, I believe.

I got this at a thrift store up the road, on a day that I just went to garage sales and didn't have any luck.

So I went up to the thrift store and that was in the housewares section.

APPRAISER: And so how much did you pay for it?

GUEST: I paid seven bucks for it.

APPRAISER: So you are right, it's made by Gorham Silver Company.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: Gorham was founded in 1831 in Providence, Rhode island, and they are still in business today.

What's really pretty about this is the form.

It's got this wonderful swollen base, and then al-also this wonderful scrolling floral repouss decoration.

We have some marks on the bottom, we're gonna take a look at.

In the center we have "November 8, 1893."

And I don't believe there's any major historical significance.

It's likely the date of a wedding, or some type of celebration.

Then we have the mark of Gorham beneath, and right below that is "C.S.

Raymond," which is likely a local retailer who would have purchased it from Gorham to then sell it.

It's marked "sterling."

And then we have the model number, which is 1226.

But then over here, which is sort of interesting, this tiny mark is actually the Gorham date letter, and it dates to 1891.

GUEST: Hm... APPRAISER: Which is kind of interesting.

So it would have been made in 1891, acquired by a local retailer, and then inscribed for this special date in 1893.

It's a lovely example.

If I were to see this in a retail environment in today's market, I'd expect to see a price of around about $1,250.

GUEST: It's really good.

It's a good purchase.

(chuckles)