Porringer, tableware

Porringer with an everted rim, straight-sided, angular bowl, foot ring and a single ear decorated with a female figure surmounted by a ropework suspension loop. The lower ‘body’ or ‘skirt’ of the figure is an inverted heart. The ear is marked with an ownership triad of ‘H’ over ‘A’ and ‘I’. The rim and edge of the foot ring are decorated with ropework. There is a very worn touch under the base with the letters ‘WM’ above a crescent by William Mabbott, London, OP3029, LTP 69.

Mabbott opened his shop in 1644/45 and died in 1680. This attractive ear appears to be unique to Mabbott and has not been previously recorded.