This silver porringer was used for eating sloppy foods such as porridge and hearty soups. The foods were eaten with a spoon. The Latin inscription tells us that it was a gift. It reads: ‘Ex dono Anna Aris varig: charis: sorori Eliz: Eston 1686’ (‘given by Anna Aris to her dear sister, Elizabeth Eston, 1686’). Elizabeth Eston (1665-1727) was married twice - first to the Reverend John Eston, the vicar of Pertenhall in Bedfordshire and in 1690 to John King, who succeeded her deceased first husband to the Pertenhall living. They had three sons and three daughters - their son John King became a distinguished physician and classical scholar. Perhaps Anna gave this porringer to her sister for the use of her children?
Silver has long been associated with childhood. To be born ‘with a silver spoon’ has a literal meaning. Silver spoons with decorative finials – apostles, lions or as shown here, a child’s head – were given as christening gifts. A gift of silver for a child was a store of wealth for the future. Nursery silver, pap boats, porringers, rattles and saucepans were used for their hygienic qualities but were also future family heirlooms.