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| Spanish Silver Porringer / Wine Taster - "Pieces of Eight"
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Reference: S1467
Period: 17th Century?
Year: Circa 1618?
Silversmith: Unknown
Place: Segovia?
Price: $ 1 150.00
Weight: 71 grams
Dimensions: 8.9 cm diameter, height 2.2 cm
Condition: Very good, small dent below handle. Coin very clear on both sides.
Description: A Spanish silver porringer, inset with a Spanish eight reale coin (one of the famous "pieces of eight") dated 1618, the reign of Philip III (1578-1621). The porringer is hand beaten, with the individual hammer marks clearly visible, creating an attractive pattern. The rim is folded over, and the cast flat handle has a scrolling design. The handle is quite crudely cast, we believe a sign of age. We have dated the porringer 17th century to co-incide with the date of the coin, but it could be later, with an old coin inset. The coin is well preserved on both sides. The reverse reads "Hispania RVM REX 1618" (King of the Spanish), with 2 castles and lion rampants in quatrefoil design (Arms of Castile & Leon). The obverse has the crowned Hapsburg shield, with the Segovia aqueduct mint mark and assayer initial A to the left, and VIII (8 reales) demarcation to the right. It reads "Philippus III DG".
The porringer has 4 hallmarks, but given their proximity to the rim are only partially struck, so they are not clearly visible. The include device, star?, letter M in shield, and letter P?. We welcome assistance in identifying the marks. Porringers were originally used for eating pottage, they have also been used as bleeding bowls. They are mostly used as wine tasters today.
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Spanish silver porringer
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Pieces of eight - 1618
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Segovia mint
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Side view
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Cast handle
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Back of handle
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Hallmarks
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Scale
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