Possessing Gorham sterling silver pieces in your collection is indeed something to be proud of. The quality and beauty of this prestigious manufacturer had never depreciates through time. Maintaining its elegance with the proper care should be done regularly in order to avoid deterioration and tarnishing.
All listings below provided by ebay
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 Antique Gorham Sterling Silver Buttercup Pattern Lemon Fork 1899  US $26.00
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 sterling candle snuffer in Buttercup by Gorham US $35.00
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 make up brush in Buttercup by Gorham US $35.00
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 make up brush in Melrose by Gorham US $35.00
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 GORHAM RARE 1861 COTTAGE PATTERN STERLING SPOON 6 26gr US $24.99
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 Antique Victorian Ghoram Sterling Silver Napkin Ring US $30.02
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Gorham silver makes wonderful sterling silver flatware and holloware pieces; one of the most impressive collections that have inspired people are their teas sets. They were designed with a lot of beautiful details; in fact one of the designs became part of the history. Mary Todd Lincoln had purchased an impressive tea set which was used in the White House in 1859. The tea service was presented to the national Museum of American History. That is how valuable a Gorham piece is; therefore it deserves a proper cleaning to maintain its beauty.
A properly maintained sterling silver collection will always be a source of enjoyment. This article will provide you the different tips of how to clean silver sterling tea sets and other silver pieces.
A common problem with Gorham sterling silver or any other fine silver pieces is tarnish. This is caused by contact with sulfur compounds in air. It is also aggravated by wool, felt, fossil fuels, rubber bands. Latex gloves and even foods like eggs, onions, and mayonnaise. Tarnish formation occurs fast in a humid environment. Even oily salts from fingers may cause corrosion pattern that needs to be removed by a professional.
All listings below provided by ebay
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 Gorham Sterling Silver Coffee Tea Pot Set US $3,100.00
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 Gorham Etruscan Sugar Tongs 4 1 4 US $40.00
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 ANTIQUE WHITING 4 PC STERLING SILVER COFFEE TEA SET 5777 TROY OZ NO RESERVE US $1,358.00
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 Heavy Ornate Gorham Sterling Silver 925 Tea Set Pot Creamer Sugar 30 oz US $3,800.00
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 GORHAM STERLING REPOUSSE COFFEE TEA CHOCOLATE POT US $1,500.00
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 Gorham Tea set Sterling 37199 Gr Year 1915 US $4,500.00
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 GORHAM COIN SILVER ENGINE TURNED GOTHIC STYLE PITCHER POT CIRCA 1850s 60s US $399.00
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 Fairfax Gorham Teapot US $1,198.08
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 Fairfax Gorham Coffee Pot US $1,209.60
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 Gorham Sterling Silver Tea Set A3550 US $1,200.00
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 Gorham Sterling Silver 2 Pint Tea Pitcher Kettle A2341 US $950.00
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 Five pc sterling tea coffee set by Gorham ca 1930s US $1,999.99
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 Antique 5pc Gorham Sterling Repousse Tea Set 1887 US $8,000.00
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 Gorham 3 Piece Sterling Silver Coffee and Tea Serving Set US $1,950.00
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 Gorham sterling tea strainer VERY NICE US $72.25
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 Gorham Sterling CHANTILLY pattern Kettle Stand and Burner US $1,250.00
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 Sterling Tea Pot Gorham Fairfax Pattern US $715.95
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 Four Antique Sterling Silver Service Pieces from Gorham US $14,900.00
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 1892 GORHAM STERLING SILVER 6pc TEA SET FIGURAL FINIAL US $8,895.00
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 Kettle Stand by Durgin Circa 1918 Sterling US $2,695.14
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 Vintage Gorham Plymouth Sterling Silver 5 Pc Tea Set US $6,500.00
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 Gorham Sterling Silver 2 Headed Griffin Tea Strainer US $590.00
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 8pc GORHAM PLYMOUTH STERLING SILVER TEA SET TRAY US $9,750.00
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 Sterling Silver Tea Set Plymouthg Pattern by Gorham NR US $1,495.99
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 Gorham CHANTILLY GRAND Sterling Creamer 5 3 8 118 Oz US $645.99
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 Gorham CHANTILLY GRAND Sterling Sugar Bowl Lid US $949.99
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 6pc ELEGANT GORHAM PURITAN pat STERLING SILVER TEA SET US $7,900.00
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In washing a silver piece you have to be gentle and make sure to dry it immediately. You can use a non-lemon-scented phosphate-free detergent and soft cotton dish towel to dry it. While washing do not allow contact of the pieces to the metal sink because this will cause scratching.
Once you had noticed a yellowish tint, you have to be alarmed because tarnish is starting to develop. This is the best time to intervene because as it turns light brown to black, the difficulty of removing it increases. You can check on an early tarnish formation by viewing the object against a white piece of paper. Once you see a very light tarnish you can use Windex with vinegar or a liquid non-abrasive, unscented, aloe vera hand sanitizer. By using a cotton ball, rotate it gently and regularly to the exposed unused surfaces then dry the piece with a cotton dish towel. This is so far the least abrasive technique of cleaning a silver piece.
Once your Gorham sterling silver becomes more tarnished you will need to use a commercial silver cleaner. There are some available in the market that offers tarnish protection. It is essential to use the least abrasive product. Polishes that come in liquid that are washed off can be less abrasive because of their ability to suspend the polishing ingredients.
Always make sure to keep your polish container closed and never use a product that had dried up. The content of the dried polish becomes concentrated and may damage your silver piece. It is never advisable to use steel wool, scouring pads, and dips because they tend to be very abrasive.
If you noticed a purple stain in your set after cleaning do not mistake it as tarnish. Removing such stain might actually depreciate the value of your Gorham sterling silver. The purple stain is called a fire stain, it is an oxidized copper that can be found on pre-colonial until early 20th century pieces. This fire stain may not show up until several years of polishing and you can consult with a restoration silversmith to make the right decision about your pieces.
It is very important to take note that toothpaste should not be used in cleaning your silver piece because some may contain baking sodas that can be extremely abrasive. You need to use polishes that are specific for removal of tarnish from silver.
Having valuable possessions like a Gorham sterling silver needs some attention and maintenance. It is a must to take care of them because their value increases as they grow older. It is an easy, can even be enjoyable to do so. There is no doubt that having fine silver pieces will bring you joy for years to come.
