Porringer 1685 - 1686

This porringer was crafted in the late 17th century by Thomas Cory, likely in the American colonies. Notice how the hammered texture of the silver catches the light, giving the piece a lively, almost organic quality. The bowl’s simple, rounded form contrasts with the ornate, almost baroque handle. This juxtaposition creates a visual tension, a dialogue between austerity and embellishment. Cory seems to be playing with the semiotics of material culture, where simplicity can signify purity or practicality, while ornamentation speaks to status and wealth. The very act of creating such an object—a vessel intended for everyday use—from precious metal raises interesting questions about value and function. Is it primarily an object of utility, or does its silver construction elevate it to a symbol of social standing? The porringer ultimately exists in this intersection, inviting us to decode its multiple layers of meaning.