What is Aesthetic Movement Silver?

Aesthetic Movement Silver by Gorham

What is Aesthetic Movement Silver?

In the United States from around the years 1865 to 1890 there was a rush of silver companies adopting the design aesthetics of Japanese naturalistic art forms. These pieces often included the artful use of flowers, lily pads, frogs, bugs, grasshoppers, butterflies, sea grass, dragon flies, fish, spiders, sea life and many other Japanese inspired design aesthetics. This design influence is sometimes referred to as "Japonesque" or simply as "aesthetic movement" silver.

The most prominent silver manufacturers that created pieces of this design aesthetic are Tiffany & Co., Whiting, Gorham, Shiebler and Dominick and Haff. Sometimes these manufacturers even combined the use of mixed metal of gold, copper or other metals to emulate design styles similar to those of the Japanese Mejii period.

Value wise, the Japoneque or aesthetic movement pieces in today's market are amongst the most valuable and sought out pieces by antique silver collectors. Some of these pieces can be typically worth hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per troy ounce. The values depend on the complexity or artfulness of of the design, the manufacturer and if the pieces are mixed with other metals.

Conclusion: Aesthetic movement silver pieces are well worth adding to your collection and will likely continue to appreciate in value due to their scarcity and the ever increasing pool of collectors seeking out these pieces.

Whiting Mixed Metal Aesthetic Crabs Antique SIlver

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Aesthetic Movement

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Article Authored by Greg Arbutine on 2-16-26 - Greg Arbutine is a world expert on antique sterling silver flatware and hollowware items having been in the antique silver industry since 1972. He collects silver for his museum but also loves to wheel and deal on almost any other form of silver items that you might want to sell.