Codman & Codman

Recent research by Samuel Hough has identified the makers of this dish and solved the mystery of their touchmark with entwined codfish. Edwin and Frank Codman were sons of William Christmas Codman, head designer for Gorham Manufacturing Company at this period. For one year, between stints at Gorham, study in Paris, and returning home to England, the brothers formed a partnership in Providence, where they designed, made, and sold hand-wrought silver. This serving tray, a rare example of their work, resembles the martelé (hand-hammered) silver developed by their father at Gorham. It demonstrates the highest quality of workmanship by his sons and represents previously unknown silversmiths within the Museum's collection of American silver, which includes pieces by their father.