Featured Thoughts on this ladle?

As I work my way through the silver my sister-in-law gave me back in the spring, I've run into a couple of things I have questions about, this being one of them.
This ladle is by Gorham, is 13 inches long and weighs 218.2g. I'm fairly sure the pattern in "Cottage", but the examples I've found online include the word "patented" and a date code. The only marks on this piece are shown, but the date is somewhat vague. 925-1000 shows the style of the mark as "last quarter 19th century". I see that the pattern was introduced in 1861.
How long was "Cottage" produced, and does the lack of other marks suggest that this might be early production? I don't see much of this pattern in online searches, so is it somewhat uncommon or is it not popular?




If it wouldn't embarrass my wife, this is the dainty little spoon I'd eat gumbo with. But I love gumbo and would eat it with a shovel if I could!

 

Could double as an ice cream spoon in my world.

 

It is Gorham's 'Cottage' pattern, the subject of one of Gorham's infringement lawsuits, still relevant case law - the patent can be seen in the lengthy post linked below. The earliest pieces would have the 'PATENT 1861' stamp, which would have eventually been omitted since the longest a design could be protected was 14 years. The mark form chart on 925-1000 should be considered a guideline, Gorham was an extremely prolific company with many variances in their marks, your mark was used prior to 1875, but was pretty much phased out after 1898, though it does appear on some 1920s Erik Magnussen designed pieces. The pattern would be produced as long as it was selling and could be made on request, personally doubt it was in regular production past the 1890s, if that late...

https://www.smpub.com/ubb/Forum13/HTML/000151.html

~Cheryl

 

I knew you would be a source of good information! That's a lengthy read, but very interesting. The question was asked if anyone had seen an actual example of White's pattern. I'd love to see a side-by-side comparison. It was also noted that White's pattern was "spiky and ill-proportioned". The drawings certainly seem so. To me, the overall lines and feel of the Gorham are very pleasant.

 

These are my American coin master salt spoons, the sixth is 'Cottage', marked only 'PAT.61.', made prior to Gorham adopting the sterling standard in 1868 (bit smaller than your piece):



~Cheryl

 

All of these spoons are very nice, but I love the one that is shaped like a shovel.