An American Silver "Florentine Style" Three-piece Coffee Set and Tray, Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, RI, 1912

comprising: Coffee Pot, Creamer, Sugar Bowl and two-handled tray, chased with arabesques, scrolling acanthus and boughs of fruit, all engraved with foliate script monogram GKT, the coffee pot with swan neck spout, bifurcated handle and raised on four dolphin head feet, creamer and sugar with claw feet, the shaped-oval tray similarly cast and chased and with putti heads, moustachioed masks and profiles formed of acanthus, marked on bases, teapot with manufacter's code TOR, creamer TOT, sugar bowl TSO, tray TRW

minor scratches to surface of tray from use, good condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Gorham's archives indicate that this special order coffee set was completed on 7 June 1912.  The coffee pot required 75 hours of silversmithing, and an additional 221 hours for chasing.  The chasing was executed by Harry Heath, who was employed by Gorham for 50 years and was one of their most highly compensated chasers in this division.  The chasing on the sugar bowl was also completed by Heath, and required 111.5 hours.  Both the sugar bowl and the creamer required 35 hours of silversmithing.  The chasing of the creamer was performed by chaser #13 and was executed in 73 hours.  The tray was made in 45 hours before it was sent to chaser #4.  At the time of completion the net factory price of the service was $960.  As the cost of silver was $0.60 an ounce, the majority of the factory price was incurred through labor and overhead expenses.