Porringer
ca. 1720
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 2 1/4 x 8 1/16 in. (5.7 x 20.5 cm); 8 oz. 16 dwt. (274.3 g) Body: Diam. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm) Lip: Diam. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 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
33.120.338
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of colonial American craftsmanship with this exquisite porringer, crafted by silversmith John Codd around 1720. A porringer was a versatile shallow bowl, often used for serving porridge, soups, or even as a child's dish, prized in households for both practicality and display. Measuring just 2¼ inches high with a 5⅜-inch body diameter, this silver piece weighs a substantial 8 ounces 16weight, reflecting the high quality of its hand-wrought construction. In early 18th-century America, silver objects like this were symbols of wealth and status, commissioned by prosper...