Gorham's Martele is the premier form of art nouveau sterling. Martele production spanned a number of years, with initial pieces developed in 1896 until the 1930's.

Though Martele silver had its roots in the English Arts and Crafts movement, the designs were typical of the Art Nouveau stylized motifs. The word "Martele" is French for hand-hammered. At a time when American silver manufacturers were turning to machinery and technology to create decorative arts in the Art Nouveau style, Gorham used the technique of hand-hammering.

The Martele Bon Bon Dish, c. 1900 has been beautifully shaped with soft curves and exhibits the excellence of Gorham’s skill.