Porringer
ca. 1755
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 1 11/16 x 7 3/4 in. (4.3 x 19.7 cm); 7 oz. 9 dwt. (231.4 g) Body: Diam. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm) Lip: Diam. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm)
Classification
Porringer
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.335
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver porringer, crafted by New York silversmith Jonathan Clarke around 1755, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of colonial American silverwork. Measuring just 1 11/16 inches high and 5 1/8 inches in diameter, with a weight of over 7 ounces, it features a shallow bowl with a distinctive scroll handle, ideal for serving porridge, caudle, or as a christening gift for infants. Displayed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, it reflects the growing sophistication of American decorative arts in the mid-18th century, when skilled artisans like Clarke blended British in...