Gorham "Lady's" Pattern Antique Sterling Silver Cheese Scoop, Providence, RI, c. 1868

This rare cheese scoop in Gorham's "Lady's" pattern is a wonderful and whimsical design. Holding the scoop, as if serving, is a casting of a woman's hand. We do not know why, but sometimes the hand is sporting a ring on the wedding finger and sometimes not. In this case, the hand with a decorative cuff is wearing a ring.
Made from multiple parts, decorative bands attach the hand section to the stem of the handle and also the upper part. A circular disc with a bowed ribbon is decorated with a chased, decorative circle around a blank interior where a monogram has been removed.

Provenance: Private collection.

This very unusual, sterling cheese scoop is marked with Gorham's trademark and 'PATENT 1868/STERLING' and by the Philadelphia retailer 'BAILEY & CO.' It measures 9.5 inches long, weighs 2.85 troy ounces and is in great antique condition.