Gorham named its line of Art Nouveau silver objects “Martelé,” based on the French verb marteler, “to hammer.” At 950/1000 parts of silver, the metal was softer and slightly purer than sterling (925/1000 parts of silver) and was therefore more malleable and easier to work by hand. Artisans left visible hammer marks as an indication of their labor. This inkstand depends not only on its curvaceous form for its visual impact, but also on textural variation and high-relief chased ornamentation based on nature. The prize-winning Martelé line was featured at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900.