About Michelle Lieberman Expertise My expertise is in the area of American sterling silver and coin silver flatware and holloware, including identifying silversmiths and makers, types and patterns of flatware and their usage. I am unable to answer questions pertaining to silverplate or foreign silver.
Experience With over 25 years experience in selling vintage silver, I now devote much of my time educating others in this field.
Education/Credentials BA California State University Los Angeles
Question I have a friend who recently took his set of Gorham Buttercup to an appraiser to determine its value. The appraiser told him that many of the pieces were fake because they had no reference to "Patent 1900" on them. These same pieces had the old Gorham hallmarks. Naturally, my friend is upset and does not know what to do next. Do you agree with this reasoning? Thanks.
Answer Hello Jim.
Do I agree? Certainly not! The patent date is shown on the back for the duration of the design patent, which I believe is 12 years. After that, when a new die is made at the factory, off comes the patent date, but the flatware is still as legit as can be (and Gorham is still producing this pattern).
Some add'l info for you: Having a patent date on the back of a set of Buttercup will increase its value, but only a bit.
Your friend should go to this website and try again:
