Gorham 'Isis' Pattern Antique Sterling Silver Berry Spoon, Providence, RI, c. 1870

Creative and innovative, Gorham's very rare Isis pattern was created c. 1870 by their lead designer George Wilkinson. It has a rectangular handle end that terminates with a button. The central part of the handle is round and looks like a lotus plant in bud. Connecting the functional end with the handle is a conjoined cobra and vulture wings, the traditional symbol of the United Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt worn on the Pharaoh's crown. The bowl of this serving spoon features the original gilding.

Egyptian design became popular at the end of the 1860's and Gorham's Isis pattern reflects the Egyptian taste in design. Also, its lean design displays a sense of modernism to us living in the 21st century. A fine example of this pattern, a fish serving fork and slice in the collection of the Dallas Museum of Art, is illustrated in Silver in America by Charles Venable, p. 69, fig. 3.26.

This wonderful serving spoon measures 10 inches long and 2.875 inches across the bowl. It weighs 3.1 troy ounces, is in very good/ excellent antique condition with light signs of use in the bowl. It is marked with Gorham's trademark, "STERLING" and by the retailer "S. Hogan". It is monogrammed "E.S.P." in an Old English style on the handle.