_Martelé_ dressing table and stool

At the 1900 Paris World's Fair, the Gorham Manufacturing Company introduced a line of handmade goods given the French name Martelé, or "hammered." The grandest piece in the line was this meticulously crafted dressing table with its stool. The table reflects a combination of stylistic influences-from traditional colonial revival forms such as the curving legs terminated by curious claw feet, to the rich chasing of floral designs offering the fluid ornamentation of art nouveau. Gorham's chief designer, William C. Codman, was responsible for the extravagant design, executed by a team of silversmiths. For their achievements, Gorham was awarded the Grand Prix, the fair's highest award.