Gorham Antique Coin Silver Figural Celery Vase, Providence, RI, c. 1860s

This stunning vase features magnificent, cast lion heads clutching loop handles. The details are wonderful, along with their flowing manes. The trumpet-shaped body is beautifully repousséd and chased with scenes on both sides of foliage and a bridge with water pouring over rocks underneath. On one side, a reserve is engraved with a 'T.E.M' monogram. Bold, applied balls decorate the shaped rim and top of the pedestal base.

One mostly sees celery vases executed in glass. Celery was regarded as a delicacy and quite fashionable at the time - a late harvest vegetable considered a healthy addition to winter's limited diet. These rare silver objects are mostly used today for floral arrangements but still make a wonderful and fun statement and a conversation piece on the dining table filled with celery.

This lovely vase is marked with Gorham's trademark and the pattern number '440.' It measures 9.25 inches tall, weighs 16.55 troy ounces, and is in very good/ excellent antique condition with some light fire scale (typical of Gorham's silver from this period) and some wear and scratches to the interior.

Pictured below is the original Gorham photograph courtesy of the Gorham Archives at the John Hay Library, Brown University. Gorham's records indicate this model vase had an average wholesale cost of $49.50, which would have been adjusted for each vase's actual silver weight. Our vase is heavier and would have cost more.