Several years ago I posted on Gorham's Florentine pattern. Recently I came across a copy of the Gorham Handbook : Sterling Silver Spoons and Forks which is a reproduction of the original such handbook distributed by the Gorham company in 1909. In it they give a description of many of their more popular (and their favorite) patterns.
Their description of "The Florentine" is:
"For the motif of the Florentine pattern we are indebted to the great Renaissance movement in the late sixteenth century, when Italy gave to the world the most beautiful examples of architecture and decorations known as the Italian Renaissance, which for richness and grandeur has never been excelled. Typical of the beauty of this Italian style in both form and enrichment, the Florentine pattern meets the demand for a pattern suited to the taste of those who admire an elegant and massive style. In its outline and decoration it has every essential of a heavy weight ornate spoon."
