Gorham ‘Olive Branch’ Pattern Antique Sterling Silver Cream Ladle, Providence, RI, c. 1870

Gorham’s early and rare pattern, ‘Olive Branch,’ features wonderfully detailed casting of a woman’s hand holding an olive branch with berries. This delicate form is very uncommon with the bowl in the form of a bucket and is often referred to as a ‘chocolate’ ladle, although this name is not found in period catalogs.

This is a very rare and intriguing pattern with slight variations. For example, sometimes the hand appears with a ring on the wedding finger and sometimes without, as in this instance. 

This rare sterling ladle is marked with Gorham’s trademark and ‘STERLING.’ It measures 7.75 inches long, weighs 1.25 troy ounces, and is in very good/ excellent antique condition with slight wear to the original gilding on the interior of the bucket.