Lot 141
GORHAM MANUFACTURING CO. Y
'TURKISH' COFFEE POT, CIRCA 1890
Auction: Design Since 1860 Day One | Wed 14th October | Lots 1 to 245
Description
copper, silver and ivory, stamped GORHAM CO/ V 57
Dimensions
33.5cm high
Footnote
Sold in compliance with UK Government and APHA regulations, with (non-transferable) exemption registration reference UJTXBA8S.
Literature: Williams E.A. Japanese Metalwork and the Gorham Co., The Decorative Arts Society, Journal 42, 2018 , pp. 34-35, fig. 11 where a related coffee pot is illustrated.
The alloys, colouring and patination developed by Japanese metalworkers had a profound influence on the stylistic development of American silver. As Christopher Dresser observed during his 1876 visit to Japan, the Japanese understood “the value of colour in metal”, treating gold, silver, copper and bronze as materials for creating beauty. Inspired by Japanese wares, Gorham experimented with metal appliqués, oxidised and patinated surfaces, and hammered and chased textures. In 1881 the firm introduced a range of copper wares in varied tones, including a red lacquer-like patina. Its ‘Turkish’ coffee pots, as in the present example, were often finished in a rich reddish-brown gloss, known as Gorham’s ‘red copper’ line.