Revolutionary War era Pewter Porringer, circa 1742 – 1763

This is another early piece coming out of an old Revolutionary War collection. The bulk of this collection has been artillery and military related, but there were also medical and personal items. Being offered is an 18th century porringer, ca. 1742 – 1763.

It is made of pewter and measures 7 3/4” overall, with a diameter of 5 ½”, and is 2” high. The bowl has a diameter of 4 ¼” and is 1 ¾” deep. There are no visible touch marks but lightly carved on the bottom are the initials “E K”. 

These shallow bowls were a ubiquitous part of the colonial kitchen in the 17th and 18th centuries before falling out of widespread use in the early 1800s. The fanciest porringers were made from silver and had elegantly wrought handles made by expert craftsmen like Peter Van Dyck, a noted New York Silversmith.

Porringers have a long and complex history. Used in the British Isles and parts of Western Europe for centuries, porringers traveled west with the Puritan migrations of the early 1600s and survived in their original form in the colonies.

Today, many are displayed in museum collections. There is an example of this one in the “Colonial Williamsburg Museum” (see pictures). Many households in New England and in the Mid-Atlantic colonies would have been able to afford more modest porringers, made of pewter, earthenware, or even wood. When not in use, they were often hung by their handles on little hooks in a cupboard or shelf.

The porringer remains in very nice condition, having an overall untouched patina. These eating utensils were used by both the British and Americans during the Revolutionary War and no doubt found their way into the more permanent installations like the forts. It would fit in nicely with a Revolutionary War or Colonial display.

Revolutionary War artifacts have always been difficult to find, and I am fortunate to have quite a few pieces in stock. With the upcoming of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding next year, there will be a revitalized interest. Just about all Revolutionary War relics and artifacts will be in demand, which will only add to their scarcity and price. I am already seeing a substantial increase in purchases.