Charles II Silver Bowl

GBP 2,850.00

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Object Description

An early English silver side handled porringer (or bleeding bowl) of plain circular form and shallow bellied shape. Small proportions and very charming with the original hand beaten finish. A useful serving bowl, handy for nuts and sweets.The handle is prick marked “I*C 1681 M”.
Weight 104 grams, 3.3 troy ounces.
Diameter 10.4cm. Height 3.6 cm. Spread 15.4cm.
London 1680.
Maker Thomas Cory.
Sterling silver.
A similar example by the same maker and dated 1685 is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA – a donation from the Irwin Untermyer collection
Marks. Stamped in the centre of the bowl with a full set of English silver hallmarks, lion mark to the underside of the handle.

THOMAS CORY
Thomas Cory, London and Warminster silversmith, apprenticed to Edward Wade for 9 years in 1646. The binding did not proceed and Thomas was apprenticed to Thomas Herbert for 8 years in 1648, free 1655. Cory had “migrated” to Warminster by 1663 and in 1675-76 was a Churchwarden at Warminster, however it seems that he maintained business premises in London, at least during the later part of his career. Cory bound 10 apprentices between 1656 and 1684, one of whom was John Elderton and it seems that Elderton ran the business in Warminster when Thomas Cory returned to London about 1670. When Cory died in 1689 his son John, free by patrimony in 1687, Livery 1690, continued to run the family business successfully.

Object Literature

These shallow bowls are often described as porringers. It’s probably more likely that they were used as a vessel for eating from, especially for feeding the sick, rather than for letting blood. This type of porringer with one ear will either be hallmarked around the rim, or in the centre of the base, either underneath or on the interior.