These two elegant silverplate bowls currently on offer at our Beehive were produced by Gorham Manufacturing Company, while the sturdy, utilitarian copper-bottom saucepan is one of the many thousands produced by the Revere Copper Company. What these two disparate products have in common is that one American revolutionary is responsible for both.
The Revere Copper Company didn’t opportunistically ‘borrow’ a famous old name, Paul Revere himself actually founded it with his son in 1801 at the age of 67. The Revere Ware line of pots and pans came after his death, being produced from the 1930s through the 80s. The stainless steel, copper-clad bottom pots were technical innovations. Copper transmits heat more efficiently than stainless, and the slight rounding where the sides meet the bottom makes for easier cleaning. The original line had rivetless, one-piece bakelite handles, while newer pots (which have thinner walls, incidentally) have riveted handles like this one. Revere Ware was so successful that many households used it and sets made a popular wedding gift. As interest in vintage Revere Ware grew, it was reintroduced in limited designs by World Kitchen in 2016.
The two silverplate bowls were produced by Gorham Silver sometime before 1967 when the venerable and once prosperous 136-year old Rhode Island company went under. The smaller of the two has a clear plastic liner so you can use it for flowers or candy, if you want. The bowls are reproductions of a commemorative sterling silver bowl made by Paul Revere in 1768. The original had an inscription lauding the courage of the Honorable House of the Ninety-Two, Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay who formally expressed their defiance of British Rule eight years before The War of Independence. This inscription is left off reproductions so that the new bowl may be engraved like a trophy with your own commemorative text honoring someone’s admirable achievements. Note that the original bowl was not just designed by Paul Revere, but was actually made and engraved by him, by hand.
Paul Revere was one of 12 children of Apollos Rivoire, a French immigrant who anglicized his name to Paul Revere. Although famous for his midnight ride in 1775 warning American minutemen (erroneously) that British troops were on their way, Revere was not the only rider that night. And while he did fight in the war that followed, he never achieved the rank of general like George Washington. He did not become a member of the Continental Congress like Alexander Hamilton or Benjamin Franklin, nor was he elected president like Thomas Jefferson or John Adams. His signature is not on the Declaration of Independence. Revere wasn’t wealthy or well-educated, he left school at 13 to apprentice with his silversmith father. He was a tradesman who worked with his hands and was successful enough to start a foundry and a copper rolling mill. Painter John Singleton Copley portrays him in shirtsleeves, with his tools.
Revere was a principled, lifelong activist who put his money where his mouth was. As America industrialized and the apprenticeship system dwindled, Revere expanded into iron and bronze casting. He was the first American to roll copper into sheathing for naval vessels. And as he hired on many formerly independent tradesmen, he honored worker’s rights by maintaining work hour flexibility and paying fair wages. Today we exercise the civil liberties that Paul Revere, tradesman and son of an immigrant, advocated for his entire life. Drop-sites for your ballot are open until 8 pm today. https://re.bentoncountyor.gov/elections-ballot-drop-sites/
Tuesday Treasures was started by our staff member, Jeanne Lusignan. Each week she will be featuring items that have been found at our estate sales. If you would like to submit a treasure for Jeanne to feature in a future installment of “Tuesday’s Treasures”, please follow the button below and send us an email! Please attach a few photos of your treasure in a beautiful setting as well as any details you have about your item such as manufacturer, use, age, region of origin. If you don’t know about the piece, that’s okay! We still might be able to research it for you! Don’t forget to tell us what makes this item such a treasure to you!