Porringer 1810 - 1830

This porringer was made by Thomas Danforth Boardman, a maker working in the United States in the 19th century. It is made of pewter, an alloy composed mostly of tin, with a bit of copper, antimony, or lead added for strength. Pewter was often cast in molds, but this vessel was likely raised by hand, hammering a flat disk of pewter around a stake to gradually coax it into a bowl shape. You can see evidence of this in the subtle undulations of the metal. The handle has a pierced design, which would have required careful filing. The result is a practical, durable object that would have been common in households of the time. But don't let its simple appearance fool you. The making of objects like this porringer involved a considerable investment of skill. It represents the deep history of artisanal metalworking, a tradition that we shouldn't forget when considering American art.