William and Mary Antique Silver Monteith Bowl, London 1689

Object Description

An attractive early English silver punch bowl from the late 1600’s having a castellated top with cherub heads; the circular foot with a bold gadrooned border. Good gauge silver. The body decoration, typical for a monteith of the late 17th century, has a series of asymmetrical lobed panels intersected by spiral flutes of matted background which closely resemble cornucopia.

Weight 1100g, 35.3 troy oz.
Diameter 28.8cm.
London 1689.
Maker Benjamin Pyne, a well known maker of the period.
Sterling silver.

Marks. Stamped with a full set of clear English silver hallmarks on the base; makers mark below the bowl edge.

Maker: Benjamin Pyne

Benjamin Pyne, apprenticed to George Bowers 1667, free 1676. The maker’s mark “single letter P under a crown”, found shortly after 1680, appears on the 1697 copper plate at the Goldsmith’s Hall, and reappears after 1720, again unentered, can safely be attributed to him. His only authenticated marks are two entered as a largeworker, undated, probably entered in 1697 on commencement of register. He held the position of Subordinate Goldsmith to the King for the coronation of George I only. His son Benjamin was apprenticed to him 21 October 1708, free 8 May 1716 and was elected Assistant Assayer in 1720. By the end of the seventeenth century Pyne was obviously, from his surviving work, a front ranking London goldsmith and shared with Anthony Nelme the main responsibility of upholding native standards against Huguenot competition, even though it’s more than likely that he and Nelme employed (or bought up and remarked the work of) the latter to some extent.

Pyne’s connection with Hoare’s bank seems to have continued for a considerable period and is perhaps responsible for the quantity of orders for municipal maces, regalia and church plate he obtained. However the end of his life was sad. On 17 January 1727, when he must have nearly been 75, he resigned from the Livery, probably due to ill health and bad eyesight, and petitioned with others for the place of Beadle to the Company, vacant by the death of John Bodington, and was elected the same day to the post.

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Object Literature

The Monteith bowl is mentioned in Anthony Wood’s diary in 1683 however the first recorded examples do not appear until the following year (ref. Georgina E. Lee Monteith Bowls). Food at this time was heavily spiced and a cooling drink was needed such as wine or the newly fashionable punch. Hence the requirement for a large bowl which could be filled with either a drink or ice, and to which a shaped removable rim could be used to hold stem glasses, punch ladle and lemon squeezer. A bowl of this type is referred to as a Monteith.

Object Condition

This excellent silver bowl is in very good condition with moderate signs of wear consistent with its 335 years of use. The bowl sits well and the decoration detail is still sharp. Several small repairs to the top edge of the bowl can be seen and some small nicks and scratches. The solder around the reverse of the bowl is original to the manufacture.

Object Details