Howdy

Not long ago I inherited a beautiful set of Gorham Lancaster sterling, and got inspired to grow it beyond the basic pieces my grandmother had. So I'm snooping around for exotic additional pieces, and learning more about what fish forks and asparagus tongs are for. Similarly, I'm fleshing out my mother's Fostoria Navarre stemware.

 

How lucky for you . I love sterling (just not polishing it) . And welcome to the boards.

 

Welcome!

 

Greetings! Bless you for loving such an old pattern! You may find this catalog of interest, in case you haven't seen it already.

http://sterlingflatwarefashions.com/CatalogPgs/Gorham/Lancast1.html

I hope you already know that many old patterns have sprouted "modern" utensils - pieces using an old handle that have been handcrafted with new "business ends" so appeal to the "modern" user. Be careful when looking at those "exotic" pieces. They may be something the manufacturer never actually made.

 

Yes, I've noticed custom lancaster pieces popping up here and there. I also noticed that Silverqueen.com is advertising some spoons as "factory brand new". I don't know whether that means the spoons are still in their original boxes, or that someone is making new duplicates.

 

That would be awfully unusual even for "new old stock." I seriously doubt they're original production.

Edit - I just checked Replacements who claims the Lancaster pattern was not discontinued until 1991. So I suppose having some of that recent vintage show up unused is at least possible. HOWEVER, my personal experience with patterns that lasted a long time is that there were changes in size over time such that the newer ones look strange next to the older ones - mostly shorter. And in the case of Gorham. I know that some of their early patterns were "re-issued" at a later date and the definition of the designs is much less sharp and defined on the new ones. I still advise caution.

 

welcome