The Sinclair Service: An AMERICAN SILVER ASPARAGUS DISH AND MATCHING MAZARIN, MARTELÉ, Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, RI, 1918

shaped oval, the border chased with lobes and sprays of flowers and foliage, one side chased with script monogram ESF, the two-handled mazarin pierced with stylized flowers and scrolls

Harry Ford Sinclair and Elizabeth F. Sinclair, by descent until sold
Christie's, New York, 16 June 1999, lot 4

Larry Pristo, Martelé Gorham's Nouveau Art Silver, 2002, p.401

platter with some salt stains and deep scratches to center from use, mazarin with some light scratches and a few salt stains, needs straightening at one handle, overall good condition, chased decoration crisp
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.

According to Gorham's records as reproduced by Larry Pristo in Martelé Gorham's Nouveau Art Silver, p. 401, this asparagus dish and matching mazarin was completed on 7 January 1918 by Alexander MacBeth with a making time of forty-one hours and forty-five Preston for the dish itself-- the mazarin requiring an additional fifteen hours. The chasing on the dish was executed by and unknown craftsman and was accomplished in sixty-four hours and forty-five minutes. An additional sixteen-and-a-half hours of time were spent piercing the asparagus mazarin, which T. Wilkinson completed on 22 December 1917, prior to the actual making of the piece. The net factory cost was $367.00 with the matching drainer.