A Gorham sterling silver serving tray

拍品描述

A Gorham sterling silver serving tray Circa 1888-1894 Marked for Gorham and sterling and numbered: A1617; monogrammed Height 3 3/4 in., width 33 in., depth 22 in. Weight approximately 186.3 oz. troy approximately The Matriarch's Stage: A Grand Gorham Silver Serving Tray This magnificent Gorham silver serving tray stands as a striking testament to Mary Alice's formidable role as a high-society hostess. Far from a piece for quiet family evenings, a tray of this grand proportion and intricate artistry was a theatrical centerpiece destined for the glittering, high-stakes dinner parties where the elite of American politics and commerce gathered. Inscribed with her initials, it was thought to be a wedding gift. Inherited through the direct lineage of the only children Henry and Mary Alice shared, this spectacular tray is a premier artifact of the golden age of American hospitality. A Matriarch's Legacy: Mary Alice Prentice Huntington Behind the monumental legacy of the Huntington dynasty lies the quiet, foundational elegance of Mary Alice Prentice Huntington. As the original matriarch of the family's direct lineage, she provided the private grace and dignity that anchored one of America's greatest Gilded Age stories. While history books often focus on her husband Henry E. Huntington's industrial triumphs or his later marriage to Arabella, Mary Alice's true story has remained largely untold. When Henry relocated south in 1902 to build his transit empire, Mary Alice made the bold, independent choice to remain in San Francisco with their children. There, she carved out her own cultural domain in the city's most elite enclaves—raising their four children in Pacific Heights and later establishing her grand estate at 32 Maple Street in Presidio Heights. She lived as a prominent figure in San Francisco's highest social circles until her passing in 1916. Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.

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