GORHAM MYTHOLOGIQUE STERLING SILVER SET 162pcs 145oz

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In the 1880's a traditional, scholarly strain of design began to appear in Gorham silver which was a counterpart to the academic painting and Beaux Arts architecture of the time. Antoine Heller, who was born and trained in France, was steeped in the tradition of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, the great Parisian art and architectural school. Heller, an Alsatian, was born in Saverne, France, about 1845. Heller's approach to silver design was very much in the Beaux Arts tradition. Heller first came to America in the late 1870's to work for the New York firm of Tiffany & Co. It seems reasonably certain that he came to Tiffany to help design and cut the dies for Tiffany's flatware pattern 'Olympian' which was patented Edward C. Moore on August 12, 1879. The 'Olympian' pattern made use of a series of intricately designed,, elaborate flatware handles of classical mythological scenes. The 'Olympian' designs are radically different from any previous flatware patterns of Tiffany, and reflect Heller's French sensibilities. Gorham hired Heller away from Tiffany & Co. Antoine Heller's first work for Gorham was announced with considerable fanfare in their autumn 1882 catalog. It was the meticulously detailed flatware pattern 'Fountainbleau'. Pictorial patterns like 'Fountainbleau' were always oxidized to bring out the details of the design. Heller designed 'Medici' shortly after 'Fountainbleau'. He also designed 'Cluny', a floral pattern named for the Hotel de Cluny, a museum on the Boulevard St. Germain in Paris. T were different handle designs for the different kinds of flatware pieces for both 'Medici' and 'Cluny'. In 1884 and 1885 two more Heller designs were introduced. They were the cast patterns 'Old Masters' and 'Nuremburg.' In 1886 St.Cloud was introduced, Versailles in 1888, Coligni in 1889 and Marie Antoinette in 1891, all of which were deserved popular patterns. Most probably Heller's most famous flatware design was 'Mythologique', issued in 1894, 'Mythologique' features twenty-four (24) different subjects from mythology. In 1896 the Luxembourg Museum in Paris acquired a set of 'Mythologique' flatware. Gorham gave this even wide publicity, saying it was 'the only design and execution of a silver flatware pattern has ever been recognized by any government.' Being offered is a fine circa 1910 sterling silver flatware set in the 'Mythologique' pattern by Gorham of Providence, R.I.,. Total weighable silver 242 oz. (does not include any knives, each dinner fork weighs a whopping 3 1/2 ozs.) No monogram and no monogram removal. Marked with Gorham's lion, anchor, G; Sterling. In excellent condition. The large 162 piece set includes: Twelve 9 1/2 inch hollow handle dinner knives Twelve 8 5/8 inch hollow handle luncheon knives Twelve 6 3/4 inch flat butter knives Twelve 7 1/8 inch hollow handle cheese or fruit knives Twelve 5 7/8 inch salad/dessert forks Twelve 7 7/8 inch dinner forks Twelve 7 1/8 inch luncheon forks Twelve 6 7/8 inch gumbo soup spoons Twelve 4 3/4 inch cream soup/bouillon soup spoons Eighteen 6 inch teaspoons Twelve 4 7/8 inch demitasse spoons Twelve 5 5/8 inch grapefruit/orange spoons Twelve 5 3/8 inch ice cream (or terrapin?) forks/spoons Check out my other items !Be sure to add me to your favorites list ! You are never sorry when you buy the best! Please email us at with any inquiries and with your name and postal address for upcoming exhibitions. Also, please click on the ME button above and learn more about us and American Silver. Visit Lauren Stanley at our new address 249 E. 48th Street, New York, New York 10017 ) for the finest and largest collection of 19th & 20th Century American Silver -- but please call ahead, Stan may be out of the showroom plowing the north 40! If you do not have a feedback rating of 10 or over please contact us before bidding. SHIPPING INFORMATION : We ship EXCLUSIVELY U.P.S. and only to the U.S. unless we agree otherwise prior to close of the auction. Ag... read more

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