By Gorham

By Gorham, an American Art Nouveau parcel-gilt silver Martelé bowl,

circa 1900,

shaped circular form, with three handles modelled as female figures, applied and chased foliate decoration, with a vacant cartouche, on a raised shaped circular foot, diameter 50cm, approx. weight 126oz.

Martelé work derives its name from the French verb marteler, "to hammer". This work, a departure from machine-made commercial cutlery and hollowware and was made from 1896 through the 1930s by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island under the direction of Gorham's chief executive, Edward Holbrook, and his chief designer, William Christmas Codman who was brought over from England in 1891.