Is Gorham electroplate worth anything?
Recent examples with strong provenance have sold for over $20,000, though many smaller pieces have sold between $1,000 to $10,000 dollars, depending on demand and condition.
What is Gorham electroplate?
Gorham is the name of a silver company based in Rhode Island. Many silver plated items bear the marks ‘EPNS’ that stand for Electro Plated Nickel Silver or ‘EP’ for Electro Plate.
When did Gorham make silverplate?
In 1863, Gorham was a major player in plated silver. In 1868, they had made the switch from coin silver for sterling silver and produced everything from knives, forks and spoons, to other desired pieces such as coffee pots and serving bowls.
Is electroplated silver worth anything?
Since there is only a small amount of silver on each item, there is no melting value for the silverplate. Pieces that are more decorative, rare, and in good condition might sell for more money. Silverplate value is more about the antique market than it is about the metal market.
When did Gorham go out of business?
The Gorham Manufacturing complex included over 30 buildings over a 37 acres in the Elmwood neighborhood of Providence. The site, located between Mashapaug Pond and Adelaide Avenue in an area called Reservoir Triangle, began operation in 1890 and closed in 1986.
Is Gorham crystal still in business?
Gorham ceased operating as an independent business and the new owners started reducing the quality of Gorham’s traditionally high-end products in an attempt to regain marketshare, an attempt that was ultimately unsuccessful.
Is Gorham sterling still in business?
What does EP mean on a silver hallmark?
a generic mark for Electro Plated, often used together with a “crown”
Does Gorham still make silver?
The Gorham Manufacturing Company is one of the largest American manufacturers of sterling and silverplate and a foundry for bronze sculpture.
How do you date Gorham sterling silver?
In 1940, Gorham silver marks began changing every decade to include the year inscribed within a polygon, which had the same number of sides as the decade itself. For instance, if a piece was from 1945, its mark would feature the number “5” inscribed within a four-sided shape to reflect the 1940 decade.
Is silver plate the same as Epns?
Many silver plated items bear the marks ‘EPNS’ that stand for Electro Plated Nickel Silver or ‘EP’ for Electro Plate. Old Sheffield Plate should be called Sheffield Plate, but nowadays this is greatly confused with Silver-Plate.
What is electro plated nickel silver?
EPNS, electro plated nickel silver, is a process that lays a thin layer of silver alloy over a base of nickel, zinc and copper to give the piece the look of shining silver. The beauty of EPNS silver is that if maintained properly, a table setting of EPNS silver is just as glimmering as if it were the real thing.