Porringer 1715 - 1725

This silver porringer was crafted by John Coddington in the early 18th century. Notice the ornate handle, its trefoil design echoing natural forms. Such motifs, seemingly simple, carry echoes through time. Consider the trefoil: a shape that appears in the foliage of Gothic cathedrals and the illuminated pages of medieval manuscripts. It appears in different contexts – sometimes religious, sometimes decorative. It speaks to the persistence of symbols and the way they shape our cultural memory. Across centuries, it reappears, adapted and transformed. The subconscious processes of artists and artisans contribute to these transformations. Like a dream, the trefoil morphs, reflecting collective anxieties and desires. It reveals the emotional power that seemingly simple forms can harness, engaging us at a primal level. Thus, we witness the symbol’s journey— a non-linear progression of meaning, forever resurfacing and evolving, connecting us to forgotten pasts.