Description

We are offering a new, limited-edition copy of "Martele: Gorham's Nouveau Art Silver" by Pristo (ISBN: 0-929526-52-X or 9780929526522). The privately published book is the most comprehensive accounting of Gorham's Martele sterling (and finer) silver that has been written and is considered to be "the" Martele reference. Copies have been purchased nationally and internationally by collectors, libraries, museums, and most major auction houses. The text has 495 pages, 298 of which contain specific production information on approximately 4,800 items of Martele, accounting for an estimated 8,200 individual pieces. The production information lists known information regarding the specific code, completion date, weight, maker, chaser, possible exhibitions, and factory net price. There are also 6 color and 550 black and white pictures related to various aspects of Martele, with over 800 different pieces of Martele shown in the images. Topics covered within the book include * HISTORY* MAKING * NUMBERS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS PRODUCED * and a wealth of additional information never before published. A chapter on the general dating of Gorham Sample and Special Order silver work from 1895-96 to around 1940 is also included. The tables will be especially useful for the silver dealer and collector because of the application to any Gorham Sample or Special Order silver items, not just Martele. Chapters and Sections include information regarding * THE MARTELE NAME * THE INTRODUCTION, FIRST, AND LAST PIECES * DESIGN, MAKING, AND CHASING * PROMOTION AND SALES * EXHIBITIONS AND EXPOSITIONS * TYPES OF MARTELE ITEMS PRODUCED * TOTALS OF MARTELE ITEMS PRODUCED * MARKS ON MARTELE SILVER AND GOLD * DATING GORHAM SAMPLES AND SPECIALS * SPECIFIC ITEM PRODUCTION RECORDS * The production record tables identify virtually all Martele. The research to document pieces included recording information from code and specific job assignment ledgers, costing sheets, cards indicating metal weight, photograph date cards, uncoded parts boxes (for pieces such as flatware), making room personnel cards, etc. Gorham was a very large and industrialized company, documenting every step of the making process. In the preface the author indicates that "the majority of the data was gathered from the loose photographs and photo albums (probably in the neighborhood of 50,000 images) and costing slips (probably in excess of 100,000) as well as countless ledgers, journals, folders, files, file cabinets, wooden drawers, envelopes and so on were examined" trying to find all possible Martele information during the searches within the company silver records at the Gorham factory and Brown University. In addition, as new, factual information is obtained, notation updates to the book are available on-line. Some duplicate items have been recorded since the records did not specify more than one piece being made (such as a request for a matching item), but the codes and the piece type have all been listed in the book. To date only a single piece of Martele is known by the author to not have been included in the book. The particular item is an 1897 pitcher that the author was aware of and had the records, but at the time of writing documentation was not available to verify the item as Martele. Shipping and handling in the United States is through USPS media mail. Expedited and overseas shipping is also available. Books are new and are sealed in shrink wrap. Returns ONLY if shrink wrap is not broken. WE ALSO BUY AND SELL MARTELE AND OTHER FINE SILVER.