Porringer
1700–1730
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 2 1/16 x 8 1/16 in. (5.2 x 20.5 cm); 8 oz. 9 dwt. (262.6 g) Lip: Diam. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm) Body: Diam. 5 9/16 in. (14.1 cm)
Classification
Porringer
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Sylvester Dering, 1915
Accession Number
15.98.2
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of colonial American silver with Samuel Vernon's *Porringer*, crafted 1700 and 1730. This delicate silver vessel, measuring just 2 inches tall and 8 inches across with a substantial weight of 8 ounces 9 pennyweights (262.6 grams), exemplifies silversmith's mastery. Its gently flared body, with a lip diameter of ½ inches, features a classic handle—known as an "ear"— for easy grasping, making it both functional and elegant for everyday dining. In early 18th-century America porringers like this one were essential household items, used for serving porridge, soups, or f...