Gorham Antique Sterling Silver Salted Almond Dish with Serving Spoon, Providence, RI, 1881

Gorham cataloged this delightful dish as a 'salted almond dish' and it was used for serving what were regarded as delicacies at the time. 

Inspired by the sea life of Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay, it is an imaginative form executed in the shape of a large oyster shell with two smaller applied shells as feet. Applied sand and barnacle convey a realistic appearance to the piece. The interior of the bowl, with its ruffled striations, has a light gold wash and is engraved 'GHM'. The original serving spoon has a branch handle and an oyster shell bowl, which is also gilded and engraved 'GHM.’

This lovely dish is marked with Gorham's trademark, 'STERLING/ 765' and with the date symbol of 1891. The dish measures 4.75 inches long by 1 inch high. The spoon measures just shy of 6 inches long. They have a combined weight of 3.15 troy ounces and are in excellent antique condition.