Porringer

1801–1856

Place madeProvidence, Rhode Island, United States, North America

Pewter

Overall: 5 5/8 in. × 1 7/8 in. × 8 in. (14.3 × 4.8 × 20.3 cm)

Gift of Samuel V. Hoffman

1922.20

Samuel E. Hamlin followed in his father's footsteps as a gifted craftsman and pewterer, his career beginning in 1801 and continuing until 1856. Hamlin and his father, also named Samuel Hamlin, are particularly noted for their prodigious output of porringers, most having burned-on ears, or handles, of flowered type, such as on this example. Rhode Island pewterers, in general are remembered for their porringers, and their handles of flowered design are often referred to as Rhode Island handles. The senior Hamlin probably served his apprenticeship between 1760 and 1767 under Thomas Danforth II and possibly Jacob Whitmore, both of Middletown, Connecticut and is credited for first introducing the flowered handle into Rhode Island.

DescriptionBellied bowl basin with rounded sides and everted rim with pierced flowered handle bearing stamp and with rounded trefoil bracket linen mark.

ClassificationsPEWTER