I recently acquired a dinner fork in the Imperial Chrysanthemum pattern by Gorham introduced in 1894. The piece measures just over 7.5" and weighs over 2 ounces.
The piece is as you can see marked with the lion, anchor, G mark and sterling. This is a struck mark. I have 2 teaspoons in the same pattern (no picture sorry) where the lion anchor G was part of the original die. The spoons are also marked with an H for heavy weight which I understand from Carpenter Gorham did in the late 19th and early 20th century. My question is are the spoons older than the fork? There are very slight variations in the pattern as well. Does anyone know who long Imperial Chrysanthemum was produced? Why would they change from a mark in the die to a struck mark?
Thank you for any thoughts or information on this topic.