Sterling Silver Brand Value Guide: Gorham, Towle, Wallace, Reed & Barton, and More

By Don Malpass · Published April 17, 2026 · Updated June 5, 2026

Most sterling silver flatware is valued primarily on weight — but brand and pattern can add real premium for the right pieces. This is an honest guide to which makers and patterns we see most often, and which carry value above silver spot.

How Brand Affects Sterling Silver Value

For the vast majority of sterling silver flatware, the underlying value is the silver itself — sterling is 92.5% pure silver, and a buyer's offer starts from that weight at current silver spot price. Brand and pattern then add (or don't add) a modest adjustment on top of that base.

A few makers — most notably Tiffany & Co. and select heavy patterns from Wallace, Reed & Barton, and Kirk — carry meaningful collector demand that pushes their value above scrap. For everything else, you should expect a price that closely tracks silver spot, with small adjustments for pattern completeness, condition, and serving piece content.

The Major American Sterling Makers

Gorham

Founded 1831 — Providence, Rhode Island

Gorham produced enormous volumes of sterling, so most patterns are valued primarily on weight at current silver spot. A handful of ornate patterns — Chantilly, Strasbourg, Buttercup, Versailles — can carry a small premium for complete sets in good condition.

Common patterns: Chantilly · Buttercup · Strasbourg · Melrose · King Edward · La Scala · Versailles

Towle

Founded 1690 — Newburyport, Massachusetts

Towle is one of America's oldest silversmiths and their patterns are well-documented. Old Master and King Richard are particularly common in Hampton Roads estate sales. Pricing is typically straightforward — weight-based with small adjustments for pattern desirability and set completeness.

Common patterns: Old Master · King Richard · Candlelight · French Provincial · Contour · El Grandee

Wallace

Founded 1834 — Wallingford, Connecticut

Wallace's heavy ornate patterns — Grande Baroque and Sir Christopher in particular — are well-loved and consistently in demand. These can carry a meaningful pattern premium when the set is complete with serving pieces.

Common patterns: Grande Baroque · Sir Christopher · Rose Point · Romance of the Sea · Stradivari · Royal Rose

Reed & Barton

Founded 1824 — Taunton, Massachusetts

Known for substantial weight per piece. Francis I in particular is a flagship pattern that typically commands a premium above scrap value when complete. Reed & Barton hollowware (trays, tea sets, candlesticks) is also actively sought.

Common patterns: Francis I · Burgundy · English Provincial · Hampton Court · Tara · Renaissance Scroll

International Silver

Founded 1898 — Meriden, Connecticut

Formed from a consortium of older Connecticut makers. Prelude and Royal Danish are common wedding patterns from mid-century and are valued primarily on weight, with light pattern adjustment.

Common patterns: Prelude · Royal Danish · Wild Rose · Joan of Arc · Frontenac · Rhapsody

Lunt

Founded late 1800s — Greenfield, Massachusetts

Lunt sterling is reliable and traditional. Eloquence and William and Mary are the most-recognized patterns. Valuation is straightforward — weight plus a modest adjustment for completeness.

Common patterns: Eloquence · William and Mary · Modern Victorian · Mount Vernon · Madrigal

Tiffany & Co.

Sterling production from 1851

Tiffany sterling is the major exception to weight-based pricing. Many Tiffany patterns and pieces command a substantial premium above silver content because of brand and collector demand. Always mention Tiffany items specifically when contacting a buyer — they should be evaluated separately.

Common patterns: Audubon · English King · Faneuil · Hampton · Olympian · Shell and Thread

Kirk Stieff

Samuel Kirk founded 1815, Stieff founded 1892, merged 1979 — Baltimore

Two iconic Baltimore makers. Repoussé patterns are heavy, ornate, and consistently sought after. Original Stieff Rose and Old Maryland Engraved sets in good condition can carry a pattern premium.

Common patterns: Repoussé · Old Maryland Engraved · Rose · Stieff Rose · Williamsburg Shell · Betsy Patterson

What About Lesser-Known Makers?

We also buy sterling from Frank Smith, Whiting, Manchester, Alvin, Watson, Webster, Birks, and most English and Continental hallmarked silver. For unmarked sterling that tests as 92.5%, value is calculated on weight at silver spot. The maker's mark only matters when it represents a pattern with collector demand — otherwise, weight is what determines the offer.

How to Find the Maker on Your Silver

The maker's mark is almost always on the back of each piece, near the bottom of the handle. You'll usually see two things: the word "STERLING" (or "925"), and a maker's logo or name. The pattern name is sometimes engraved as well — Gorham and Towle in particular often inscribe pattern names directly.

If you can't read the mark, photograph it under good light and we'll identify it for you. We do this every week.

Have a set you'd like evaluated? Send photos of the back of one piece (showing the maker's mark) and an approximate total weight, and we'll give you a preliminary range before you make the trip. No obligation, no pressure.

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