Arts and Crafts Sterling Silver Scottish Porringer

A superb example of a period Arts and Crafts hand-crafted Scottish silver porringer.

This wonderful hand hammered, heavy gauge, silver porringer is hand-raised and the bowl displays stunning hammering to both the exterior and interior. Attached to the top rim is a beautiful pierced keyhole handle. It has retail marks to the base "Wilson and Sharp, Edinburgh” – together with conformant hallmarks on the front side - Edinburgh, 1905, and Maker marks W&S (Wilson and Sharp).

While there is some dispute about their origins, it is well known that porringers adorned medieval dining tables and have been made of wood, ceramic, pewter and silver. A porringer is typically a small bowl without a cover that was used for wine, hot drinks and porridge. The name porringer is clearly derived from the word "porridger". Porridge, at the time when these bowls were first made, was a thick stew. Porringers are similar to caudle and posset bowls, the main difference is that caudle and posset bowls have lids and were deeper and larger. Porringers are generally less than four inches deep.

This lovely example of Scottish arts and crafts measures 11 cm diameter at the rim, just over 45mm high. It weighs 145 gm.

It is in perfect condition, and while it does have the initials "EMW" engraved on the front, these could easily be polished off.