A very fine William & Mary Porringer and Cover made in London in 1690 by John Cruttall.
A very fine William & Mary Porringer and Cover made in London in 1690 by John Cruttall.
375482
This piece was almost certainly used as a table centrepiece and a symbol of status and wealth. The main body is of tapering form and stands on a stepped spreading foot. The lower section of the main body is chased with a wide band of acanthus and palm motifs. Each side displays a cast scroll side handle. The stepped pull-off cover displays a band of swirl acanthus leaves and terminates in a beautiful bud finial wrapped in foliage. The front of the main body is beautifully engraved with a shield shaped Armorial surrounded by a pluming foliate scroll cartouche. The underside of the base is engraved with a Crest. The side of the main body displays a full set of hallmarks and the cover is also fully marked. The Porringer is in excellent condition, is of a very good weight and has a very fine colour.
John Cruttall, London silversmith, was apprenticed to Francis Harris in 1647 and turned over to Daniel Rutty in 1652, he was free in 1655. During his career Cruttall bound 18 apprentices of whom 7 became free. This unusually large number signifies a very active workshop. Described by David Mitchell as “a skilled as well as honest plateworker” Cruttall was employed by the goldsmith-banker Sir Stephen Evance (who subsequently became Jeweller to the King and was knighted). Cruttall died circa 1695. These arms and crest are those of Sebright (the arms have a mullet to show a third son or a descendant of one).
As emphasised, these pieces were valuable status symbols. A self portrait by Goddard Dunning inscribed “Aetatis at the age of 64” which hangs in the Brown Drawing Room at Blickling Hall, in Norfolk, clearly shows an identical Porringer and Cover on the table, amongst other valuable possessions.
Length, handle to handle: 7.5 inches, 18.75 cm.
Width: 5.1 inches, 12.75 cm.
Height: 6 inches, 15 cm.
Weight: 19oz.
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. Cruttall died circa 1695. These arms and crest are those of Sebright (the arms have a mullet to show a third son or a descendant of one). As emphasised, these pieces were valuable status symbols. A self portrait by Goddard Dunning inscribed “Aetatis at the age of 64” which hangs in the Brown Drawing Room at Blickling Hall, in Norfolk, clearly shows an identical Porringer and Cover on the table, amongst other valuable possessions.Length, handle to handle: 7.5 inches, 18.75 cm.Width: 5.1 inches, 12.75 cm.Height: 6 inches, 15 cm.Weight: 19oz.){kind=link}