Lotus by Gorham

Lotus by Gorham is a rather unique. It dates back to 1865.

Small Punch Ladle (11 5/8 inches)

Youth Tea Fork (6 1/2 inches)

Ice Cream Spoon (6 1/8 inches)

Sugar Tongs (5 1/2 inches)

Lotus by Blackinton

Blackinton introduced Lotus in 1910. The pattern is very similar in style to Blackinton's Daisy except this pattern is more elegant. The reed and cat tail design on the stem is splendid as it rises to delicately wrap the terminal which is tipped with a lotus blossom. This pattern is a work of art.


Strawberry Fork  (4 3/4)


Short Handled Olive Spoon (6 1/4 inches)


Mustard Spoon (5 inches)

Four O'Clock Spoon

The Four O'Clock Spoon runs in length from 4 3/4 to 5 3/8. It is shorter in length than the Five O'Clock spoon at 5 to 5 5/8 inches and much shorter than the place teaspoon, usually 5 7/8 to slightly over 6 inches. It is longer than the Demitasse spoon which is usually 3 3/4 inches to 4 1/2 inches. You may be able to tell a Demitasse from a Five O'Clock spoon, but without seeing all four laid out together, it could be confusing. I imagine many people are using Four O'clock spoons thinking they are place teaspoons. Oh, and to confuse matters there is the Desert spoon, but since it ranges from 6 7/8 to 8 inches, chances are it will not get confused in the mix.

This spoon is designed to be used when coffee (or tea) is served in the late afternoon. You will find them in many of the older patterns.  

Maryland by Gorham ( 4 7/8 inches)

Rosette by Gorham (5 inches)

Saint James by Tiffany (4 5/8 inches)

Charles II by Dominick and Haff (5 1/4 inches)

Lotus by Gorham (4 3/4 inches)

Nut Picks

Nut Picks are not a hard piece to figure out. (Not to be confused with a letter opener.) They are used to separate the meat of the nut from the shell. Usually they are used as a place piece, so a full service of sterling would have a pick for every place setting.

Japanese by Tiffany (5 inches)

Louis XIV by Gorham (4 7/8 inches)

Carnation by Wallace (4 1/2 inches)


Rose by Wallace (4 1/2 inches)


Marquis by Frank Whiting (5 1/4 inches)



Oval Twist by Whiting (5 1/8 inches)



Armor by Whiting (5 1/2 inches)



Lotus by Gorham (4 3/4 inches)

Preserve and Jelly Spoons

Most patterns had Jelly Spoons in two sizes, both basically of the same shape, often having a shell shaped bowl. Some displayed slightly pointed tips. The larger may be referred to as a Preserve Spoon with the smaller being called a Jelly spoon. But sometimes they are both called Jelly Spoons, just the large Jelly Spoon and the small Jelly Spoon.

A few patterns had Honey Spoons, which were really a jelly spoon with a pointed tip that the manufacturer stated was designed to cut into the honey comb. Other patterns referred to their jelly spoons as Marmalade Spoons. Once again, this was an example of the manufacturers using different names for the same utensil.

(Preserve spoon shown in Narranganset by Gorham)

(Preserve Spoon Shown in  Hanover by Gorham 7 7/8 inches)

(Large Jelly Spoon shown in Lotus by Gorham 7 3/4 inches)

(Jelly Spoon shown in Chrysanthemum by Gorham)

(Honey Spoon shown in Louis XV by Whiting)