Martele Book Updates

In order to further advance the study of Martele and to maintain the accuracy of the information published in the book Martele: Gorham's Nouveau Art Silver, new research, factual additions, or significant corrections will be posted on this page. Check back periodically.

April 26, 2008

New information. On page 158, for the listing of items with the Codman signature, add the BVR pitcher completed August, 1913. The BVR pitcher and corresponding BVT tray have been examined. The tray was not signed.

New information. On page 61, the tall vase in the two exhibition windows has been tentatively identified. On page 62, under the "items...with a high degree" add the A/FQ vase. On page 272, add on the second line for the A/FQ "a vase. apparently A/FQ, appears in the window of Gorham's San Francisco exhibition, but attribution is based on photographic comparison and can not be confirmed at the present time"

New information. A second G/XC entree dish has been documented. The second dish has the "P" mark. On pages 140 and 144, change the number of entree dishes from 70 to 71. Change the total on page 143 to 7650. For the scond line entry for G/XC on the top of page 318, add "- 2 made - one dish with "P" mark"

New information. The AIM pitcher from the lavatory set sent to the 1901 Buffalo Exhibition has been examined. No unique marks were noted to indicate a special mark for Buffalo. The sentence on page 59 referring to the set contains an error and should state "The items included a 12 piece lavatory set and a punch bowl."

May 20, 2007

New information. The N-23a fish forks have been identified and documented. The forks were found in suite with the (9377) fish dish and the (9378) and (9381) servers. The original archive photo shows the (9378) servers paired with the (9376) individual forks. However, as pointed in the text, the code was most likely an error and the forks are N-23a and (9376) was probably the ladle for the (9374) butter boat. The forks are the same style as BPG-v illustrated in the book on page 83. Support for the identification comes from the following facts: Because the items are early Samples, there were only two sets of fish items (dishes, servers, etc.) made in sterling silver, and apparently only one set of individual fish forks made in sterling ("apparently" since the costing only appears to indicate the dozen). All other fish items (including the individual forks) were made later and consequently in the .950 or .9584 standrard. In addition, the costing information within the book for N-23a indicates the slip was found in the region of the (9380) Samples, the currently associated pieces. In addition, within the costing information the dozen forks weighed 17.80 ounces. The current group of N-23a contains 10 forks of the dozen. The 10 weigh 14.78 ounces which when adjusted to the weight of 12 would be 17.74 ounces.

On page 472, change the "notes" comment. Delete "appears to be fish fork (9376)" and add "style BPG-v".

New information. A second EOO child's plate has been identified. Though the plate is not clearly indicated in the records, there are several clues that the plate is not the one produced during 1903. Specifically, the second plate has a key date code mark (for 1906), the use of the .9584 standard (not in use during 1903), the code being horizontal as compared to vertical (the orientation of the markings was changed for special order items), and the fact that the costing information does indicate a reprice for March 15, 1906, a date that corresponds to the date letter mark and the higher .9584 standard. (The 1906 reprice is also noted for the other parts of the child set, the EON bowl and EOP cup. The implication is that there may be a second of each of those items as well).

On page 300 of the book, add in EON, plate - child, and 1906. For the comments add "The March 15, 1906 reprice for EON-v appears to relate to the second item being produced". On page 141, change "dish - almond, bonbon, olive, mayonnaise and other" from 274 to 275. On page 143 change the "total" from 7648 to 7649. On page 144, change "dish - almond, bonbon, olive, mayonnaise and other" from 274 to 275.

New information. From earlier "New" information. Page 423 "notes" for R/YS (continuation of page 422) indicate the "making card shows a second bowl made" and an added (from earlier correction) that the "author note: The bowl has been documented as an example of 'unmarked' Martele, only showing company marks for Birks of Canada - see Silver Magazine (November - December, 2002). The conclusion now has additional verification. The Gorham R/YS bowl has been found and examined. While the Birks bowl is taller and heavier (approximately 4 1/8 inches versus 5 1/2 inches and 35.76 troy ounces versus 41.19), the design and chasing similarities are obvious. The examination of the two bowls supports the statement of the Birks bowl being a piece of unmarked Martele.

March 21, 2007

New information. A second pair of the HT chafing servers (fork and spoon) has been documented. The servers were compared to another pair recently sold at auction as well as the archive photograph and indicates that the two pairs as presently combined have the fork from one set with the spoon of the other. The ivory handles for both pairs had the same decoration, but the silver chasing is different. One fork measures about 10 7/8 inches long, while the second measures about 12 1/8 inches. The correct spoon should be about the same length. The shorter pair is the one in the archive photo (based on decoration). The monograms on each of the items matches the other currently associated piece (one pair is monogrammed on the ivory, the other in the silver), so the assumption would be that the servers were made around the same time and the "true" pairs inadvertently mixed and sold. Other examples of originally mismatched items are known.

One pages 320 and 321 for the HT "fork - chafing" and "spoon - chafing," in the notes section add "A second pair of servers with different chasing and 12 1/8 inches long was made."

Based on now known information and measurements from the archive photograph where the HT and HU chafing sets occur in the same picture, the following information can be added on pages 231 and 232 under the "size" column: HT fork 10 7/8; HT spoon 10 3/4; HU fork 10 3/4; HU spoon 10 7/8.

December 10, 2006

New information. Page 158. For the table listing pieces with the Codman signature, add the R/YP compotes, July 1909. The compotes (pair) were recently sold at auction and bear the Codman signature as well as the date "1909."

October 16, 2006

On page 218 for the (4086) ink / cologne, in the "notes" section add "exhibited at Paris." On page 56 in Table IV under Samples, add the 4086 ink / cologne. The Paris attribution had been documented but was not included in the published data.

New information. Page 301. For the ES vase, add to the notes "2 made." Both vases have been documented. On page 143, change the number of vases to 362.

From the May 21, 2006 addition, on page 141 change the dish - vegetable - covered from 11 to 12.

On page 143, change the total from 7641 (or later corrected number) to 7648.

May 21, 2006

New information. Page 235. For the 8448 vegetable dish, add to the notes "2 made." Both dishes have been documented.

October 7, 2005

On page 188, for inkstand B1713, change the silver standard from unknown to ".925". In the notes section, change "appears the same as PY" to "is a cast version of PY," and delete "not clear if it was recoded to PY or is a second inkstand - may not be Martele." The B1713 inkwell has been documented and is coded B1713. The inkstand is a cast version of the PY Martele inkstand made in sterling instead of the .950 standard. It is noted that the examined B1713 weighed 32.495 troy ounces (lacking the ink pots) whereas the Gorham records indicated the stand weighed 28.50 troy ounces. It is not clear if the difference is due to the company weighing the stand without the candle holder or if the difference represents more than one stand produced.

On page 406, for the PY inkstand, in the notes section change "MY-v" to "AMY-v", and change "the stand appears to be the same as B1713 - it is not clear if the stand was recoded to PY or if it is a second inkstand" to "a "Martele effect" cast version of PY was made as B1713."

On page 29, change "The bronze mold for another inkwell, PY" to "The bronze mold based on another inkstand, PY." After the sentence ending in "was probably made," add a sentence "The mold for the inkstand is known to have been used to make the B1713 inkstand." The rationale for the change is that the records indicate the PY inkstand was raised in 70 hours whereas the B1713 was cast in 8 hours which indicates the mold was made from PY, not for PY.

On page 29, change the photo caption from "Bronze mold for the PY inkwell" to "Bronze mold from the PY inkstand"

September 18, 2005

On page 15 the author indicates that the term "wrought" was used with the (8454) love cup. In fact, the "wrought" was with the (8456) love cup that was also entered the same day (November 21, 1896). The same dicussion applies that no earlier indications are seen for the term, and does not change any conclusions.

August 18, 2005

New information. A vase with a Codman signature was sold in a recent auction. The signature appears to match that as shown on the BWL sugar bowl, and is part of the 1913 run discussed in the book. Add the following information to list on page 158: BVU vase August 1913.

December 6, 2004

New information. An additional berry bowl with a Codman signature has been identified. Add the following information to list on page 158: EYM berry bowl October 1903.

April 24, 2004

New information. A magazine advertisement from the November, 1909 issue of The World To-Day provides additional information about Martele marketing. The ad placed by Spaulding and Company of Chicago promoted the sale by indicating "Photographs of pieces in stock will be mailed promptly on request; or selections on approval will be sent where parties are known to us or when satisfactory references are given." The advertisement also continues the idea of qualified connoisseurship by stating "A gift is always an expression of the giver's taste. What better selection could be made than a piece of Martele silver, which is acknowledged as the most artistic production in the history of silversmithing?"

January 15, 2004

New information. Page 187. For the 1483 ewer, add to the notes "2 made." On pages 141 and 145, change the number of ewers to "20." Both ewers have been documented.

New information. Page 261. Add a new entry. "S"ample, "9722," "pitcher," completed "Dec. 29, 1897," no height, weight "59.05," unknown maker, making "60" hours, unknown chaser, chasing "36" hours, factory net "$168.00," notes "6 1/2 hours staining." On pages 143 and 145, change the number of pitchers to "259." The pitcher has been documented.

From earlier corrections, change the number of "bowl - berry" on pages 140 and 144 to "536."

From earlier corrections, change the number of "vase" on pages 143 and 144 to "361."

Page 143, change the total to "7646."

From earlier "New" information. Page 423, "notes" for R/YS (continuation of page 422). Delete "making card shows a second bowl made" and add "author note: the bowl has been documented as an example of 'unmarked' Martele, only showing company marks for Birks of Canada - see Silver Magazine (November - December, 2002)."

October 2, 2003

Page 189. There are two items that have the 1887 B code. The proper code for the match vase is 1888 B.

November 2, 2002

Page 220. For the 4718 gravy boat completed during 1907, change the standard from ".950" to ".9584." Change the notes from "the making card indicates a date of November 7, 1907 with time for Danielson suggesting another item was made" to "the making card indicates a date of November 7, 1907." The .9584 gravy boat has been documented.

New information. On page 172 the author discusses the possibility of Martele having a mark indicating a company other than Gorham as the maker, and concludes that the practice did not occur. In a new article published in Silver Magazine (November - December, 2002) the author documents the existence of a Martele bowl lacking Gorham marks and showing those for the Canadian company of Birks. The author indicates that the conclusion reached within the book was in error.

October 8, 2002

Page 26, Table I. Add the following drawings: (102), [7280], [7675], A/MO, DGM, DGP, EYH, EYI, FCK, FG, FQ, G/VM, G/XC, G/XD, G/XE, HGT, H/NZ, H/OE, H/OF, H/OH, H/OJ, H/OZ, H/PA, H/PI, H/PJ, H/PK, IGY, IHE, IHF, IKB, I/LS, IRA, IZJ, J/HY, K/QC, LKY, LKZ, L/LU, L/MC, L/PN, L/VH, MVV, PYE, RBI, R/BY, RGT, RHF, RIH, RRE, R/YA, R/YP, R/YQ, R/ZV, T/AK, T/AL, T/AM, TLA, TLB, TLC, TLD, TLE, TLF, VGF, VXC, WSG, WSH, WSI, WSJ, WSK, WSL, ZNA

Page 61. Add the following to the items positively identified in the Gorham Pavilion: BFD, BFE, BFF punch set with a ladle (possibly CRH)

Page 277. Add the following information to each of the "notes" lines for BFD, BFE, and BFF: "Part of the BFD - BFF (and possibly CRH) punch set that appears in the window of Gorham's San Francisco exhibition"

Page 288. Add the following information to the "notes" lines for CRH: "the ladle may have been with the BFD - BFF punch set that appears in the window of Gorham's San Francisco exhibition"

New information. On page 14, the first use of the Martele name is discussed. An examination of photographs with date codes for 1897 (DD) and 1898 (EE) indicates that photographs for pieces that were completed during the fourth quarter of 1897 consistently use the term Martele as part of the included identification tag. The implication is that the use of the term "Martele" was in full use by that time, a finding consistent with statements made within the text. The proximity of the beginning of the term with the initial showing of the line at the Waldorf - Astoria during November of 1897 suggests a possible link.

New information. Three additional watercolors not recorded during the writing of the book have been documented. The three mats contain images of three vases, a compote, and a pitcher that appear to be Martele, and a three piece black coffee set with tray that is confirmed as Martele. Based on the styles of the pieces, they would be from a later period of production. The three watercolors are signed "William Codman," apparently for William Codman junior, the son of William C. Codman. The watercolors are significant in that they represent the first pieces of Martele that can be positively related to a specific designer.

New information. A number of exposition award medals are still in the possession of Gorham, and include medals for Chicago (1893), Paris (1900), St. Louis (1904), Seattle (1909), San Francisco (1915), and others in addition to an Alvin gold medal for Paris (1900).

September 9, 2002

Page 189. For the group 1885B to 1890B, change the silver standard from the unlisted "---" to ".925". Also change the comments on each "notes" line to read "part of a 6 piece set B1885 to B1890 - costing indicates "Martele effect" - does show in some documents as Martele - the piece is a duplicate of (insert code) cast in sterling." For the (insert code) insert the corresponding code of AIA, AIB, AIC, AID, AIE or AIF that is on the "notes" line.

New information. The AIA to AIF smoking set was very expensive, mainly due to the large amount of time spent chasing by Robert Bain. The factory net for the set was $680.00, substantially more than most pieces of Martele, and a high price for a "small" item. At least one set, and maybe more, was then cast from the completed pieces. The AIA set was raised in .950 silver, while the "B" series set(s) was cast from sterling (.925). The additional cast sets may have been a way to help defray the cost of the production of the AIA set.

July 13, 2002

Pages 222 - 223. For Samples 4871 to 4878 inclusive, change the silver standard from .950 to .925 (sterling). The listed Samples from 4867 to 4890 inclusive are a grouping of items with the "Martele effect."

June 3, 2002

Page 26, Table I. Add the following drawings: (657), (1480), [8005], [9182], (9535), CIL, CIM, CIO, EYK, G/WH, H/MI, H/MJ, I/AD, I/AK, MGW, PBG, PBQ, PKL, RFQ

Pages 35 to 37, Table III. Add in the following information to the alphabetical listings and the numerical listings: Frank L. Weigert, 1 item

Pages 35 to 37, Table III. Change the following information in both columns: Change Eugene J. Kauer to 33 pieces. Also change Charles A. Regester from 1 to 2 (note - he chased a pair of candlesticks)

Page 115. The caption for the VOT - VOX child set should have the date of May 18 and May 24, 1911

Page 188. The code for the 1728D vase is actually 1726D. Add the letter "O" to the "type" column (special order). Also add to the notes "2 made"

Page 200. The 2544 vase was chased by Frank L. Weigert (not Kauer). In the notes section add in the it was "chased in room W"

Page 257. For the notes to the 9526 vase, add in "2 made"

Page 265. The 9967 note should read "... second weight of 32.5"

Pages 268 and 269. For the AIA to AIF smoking set, delete the note on all six pieces that states "not clear what code on item would read (Martele marks or the "B" code)"

Page 382. For items L/MF and L/MG, the notes should read "chasing by # 21 boy"

Page 383. For item L/MP, the chaser was the number 24 "boy." Change the chaser from Buxton to James L. Anthony

New information. For the flatware group N-1a to N-1l, ZGF, and ZGG, the ZBU to ZCE hollowware, and the ENL to ENO dresser set, the "EGK" monogram is reported to be for Ernest and Grace King of Homer, Minnesota. Their home, named "Rockledge," was designed by the Chicago architect George Washington Maher. The decoration of the silver corresponds to the decoration of the home. It is not currently clear if Maher designed the silver, or simply had input for Gorham.