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  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
  • Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
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Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene

Gorham Sterling Silver “Medallion” Salt Cellars, c. 1860 - Sold Individually

A study in early American silver at its most expressive. These Gorham “Medallion” salt cellars date to the mid-19th century, a period when silversmiths began looking backward—to antiquity—for inspiration, while pushing forward in craftsmanship and design.

Each cellar is formed as a softly rounded hemispheric bowl, raised on a circular foot, with a band of classical portrait medallions encircling the rim. The profiles—reminiscent of ancient coins and neoclassical cameos—lend a quiet narrative quality, turning a utilitarian object into something far more considered.

Designed during a time of immense creativity within American silver, this pattern was patented by George Wilkinson for Gorham Manufacturing Company in 1864. Its enduring appeal lies in that balance between ornament and restraint—decorative, but never excessive.

There’s a weight and presence to each piece that speaks to hand-finishing and a slower pace of production—qualities increasingly difficult to find in later silver.

Items from this same collection can be seen at The Metropolitan Museum (The MET) in New York City.

Sold Individually.

Collectors Notes

Salt cellars of this period were never purely functional—they were part of a broader ritual at the table. Placed deliberately, often accompanied by a small spoon, they invited a slower, more intentional style of dining.

Beyond the table, they lend themselves easily to other uses: resting beside a bar for citrus salts, holding small matches, or even serving as a place for rings at bedside. Their scale makes them versatile; their history gives them presence.

Equally compelling displayed as a pair, though each stands confidently on its own.
Dimensions

~ 2 x 2 5/8"
Shipping

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Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene
Gorham Sterling Silver Medallion Salt Cellars c. 1860 | Collectors Gene