These fashionable silver-gilt fish serves are delicately pierced with a lotus pattern. A combination of mechanical and economic developments introduced specialized serving pieces to the extensive dinner services favored by wealthy entrepreneurs and industrialists in the post-Civil War era. Egypt’s three-thousand-year history was a rich source of inspiration and was particularly influential among Western nations, where links with the past became ever more valuable to citizens disturbed by –or engaged in – industrial progress and urban change. Born and trained in England, George Wilkinson was an inspired member of Gorham’s design team for almost forty years.
each piece stamped on back of shank between handle and bowl: (lion) (anchor) G sterling; each piece also stamped "A. Rumrill & Co." (probably the retailer.
inscribed "MLB" on handle of each piece.
Floyd D. and Anne C. Gottwald Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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