Porringer
This porringer was owned by Nathaniel Gorham (1709–1761), who married Mary Soley in 1736. It is said to have descended to their son, Stephen Gorham (1747–1826), who married in 1776. According to Julia Gardiner Gorham (b. 1848), this porringer was owned by her great great grandparents, Nathaniel and Mary Soley Gorham, who then gave it to Stephen Gorham. She also reports that it had belonged to her great aunt in 1835, and that it was given to her in 1869. However, some of the story of descent that Julia Gardiner Gorham reported is problematic, and the engraved initials GE / SG have a few different possibilities. JGG and the Met Bulletin reported that GE stands for George and Elizabeth Gorham; but there is no record of a George marrying an Elizabeth in the Gorham family. GE could also stand for Elizabeth Gardiner (1686?-1763), Nathaniel Gorham's mother.
Artwork Details
- Title: Porringer
- Maker: Josiah Austin (1719/20–ca. 1780)
- Date: 1750–76
- Geography: Made in Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Silver
- Dimensions: Overall: 1 15/16 x 8 in. (4.9 x 20.3 cm); 8 oz. (248.5 g)
Lip: Diam. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
Body : Diam. 5 7/16 in. (13.8 cm) - Credit Line: Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
- Object Number: 33.120.324
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.