Gorham silver is very well known in America. It has a good reputation for representing quality silver. Jabez Gorham founded the firm in Providence, Rhode Island in 1848.Year markings with the alphabet A to Q were used between 1868 to 1884, after that, symbols were adopted until 1933. In the meantime frames are used for appropriate decades. A square for the 40s, a pentagon for the 50s, a hexagon for the 60s, a heptagon for the 70s, an octagonal for the 80s and so on!In the pentagon is a year number.

Conclusion: Looking from top to bottom.

1) The words GORHAM are the makers name.

2)  The symbols underneath are the twentieth century symbol of Gorham.The outer frame an octagonal represents the 80s.

3) The pentagon with a number 1 means the year.

Summary:

This piece of sterling silver was made, by the siversmiths Gorham in 1981.