Fish Service
Maker
Gorham Manufacturing Company
(American, founded 1831)
Datec. 1884
MediumSilver
DimensionsOverall: 8 3/4in. (22.2cm), fork
Overall: 12in. (30.5cm), slice
Overall: 12in. (30.5cm), slice
ClassificationsFURNISHINGS
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2003.9.1-2
DescriptionSterling silver fish serving set in the Narragansett pattern. Fork with cast and applied motifs of crabs, shells, a fish, seaweed. Slice with cast and applied motifs of shells, seaweed, fish and a crab.On View
Not on viewCollections
Copyright<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/80x15.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.
Label TextSea life inspired the Gorham artisans who introduced the naturalistic pattern Narragansett in 1884; it was produced in limited quantities. Cattails, limpets, spiral sea snail shells, corded dove shells, seaweed, and even grains of sand are featured in the pattern. A long, narrow blade of sea grass coils around this collection of sea life. The fish fork is in the shape of a three-pronged trident with an unusual pierced middle tine. In Greek mythology Poseidon, the god of the sea carries a trident. The fish slice is in the shape of the thin shell of a steamer clam.
The name Narragansett has two associations in Rhode Island. The Narragansett were a tribe of Native Americans which was part of the Algonquin family. Located in south-eastern Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay is an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean.
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