Gorham Art Nouveau Silver Art Glass Mounted Gilt Claret Jug, Providence, RI, 1896

A striking example of American art nouveau silver mounted on French Daum Nancy art nouveau glass; this unique claret jug features lovely flowing floral designs. The Gorham silver top has a band of floral chased decoration on a stippled background set between a Martelé-style hand hammered surface above and below.  The lid also has floral repoussé decoration, a flower finial and a cast applied handle with foliate thumb rest.

The base has floral repoussé decoration set in a Martelé-style hammered background with a scrolling edge.  It is worked so perfectly to the glass that it is shaped around a raised stem on the vessel.  This is the sort of finish one sees on the very best Gorham silver.

The glass is an outstanding example of Daum's work.  It features cased ruby to clear glass that has been acid cut to form raised red decoration on a frosted background.  The flowers have been further cut and gilded.

Gorham's records indicate that in 1896 they made 9 unique claret jugs mounting silver on "foreign glass" they obtained through the Paris branch of Spaulding & Co., the Chicago retailer with whom they had a close (partial ownership) relationship.

This unique decanter is signed on the glass: Daum/ Nancy. The silver is marked underneath with Gorham's trademark, "STERLING' along with the 1896 date mark and the mark of retailer 'SPAULDING & CO.' It measures 11.75 inches high and is in excellent antique condition with some wear to the original gilding.