I have a silver 5 piece tea set from the late 1800’s. I don’t want to sell it but I would like to get more information about it because internet searches have left me with more questions then answers. It is Gorham & Co. sterling silver and dated in the late 1800’s from approximately 1850-1870 I am guessing. The silvermark on a few of the pieces show the lion going right while the other’s go to the left (indicating they are older) but they are all matching with the same pattern. Two have a butterfly on the top while each of them has the intersecting circles around them and the same handles. The only other defining mark that would indicate a pattern is the number 170 on a few under the Gorham & Co. silver marks with Coin…but it is not on all of them. Internet searches are not finding anything. I have looked online for local appraisers and have not found any.
My great uncle (You can find tons of info on him and his peices online as they are much easier to track…) Alfredo Sciarrotta was a silver maker who made some pieces for Gorham and although he did not make this he gave this set to my mom when she got married 40+ years ago. She gave it to me when I got married along with some his leaf pieces over a decade ago and they basically sit in a china cabinet and besides the sentimental factor attached to them curiosity has gotten the best of me and I really want to know more about them.
I have attached a picture 2 of the pieces to show the difference in silvermark. Excuse the fact its dingy from being stored and I haven’t had a chance to clean them up.
i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67 … oto3-1.jpg
i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67 … oto4-1.jpg