Gorham Antique Sterling Silver Footed Paten, Providence, RI, 1891

This is a lovely example of Gorham ecclesiastical silver. It has an attached pedestal base and raised sides to the plate. The border is engraved with a simple cross, and the interior is lightly gilt. The underside of the plate is engraved 'St. Michaels Day, Sept. 29th, 1895'.

Ecclesiastical silver is quite rare on the retail market as most religious institutions usually keep their collections. 

Provenance: Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Episcopal Divinity School was formerly the Episcopal Theological School founded in 1867 in Cambridge; it changed its name in 1974 when it combined with the Philadelphia Divinity School which was founded in 1857. In 2018, the school merged with the Union Theological Seminary in New York City and the campus was acquired by Leslie University. For more history of the school, see here.

This rare paten is marked underneath with Gorham's trademark and "STERLING/ 56" and with the 1891 date mark. It measures 7 inches in diameter by 1.75 inches high and is in very good antique condition with wear to the gilding and surface scratches.