A Chares II sterling silver twin handled porringer, London 1680 by Dorothy Grant (free. 1676, died c. 1712)

Of circular form with slightly rounded base upon a short cylindrical base, with wrought and applied C scroll handles with ribbed detailing. The lower half of the body with an embossed decorative band of repeating acanthus leaves, the upper section with an embossed decorative band of laurel leaves. The front prick dot engraved with contemporaneous initials R*S over W*M within scrolls. Fully marked underneath.

Length – 14.2 cm / 5.5 inches

Weight – 129 grams / 4.15 ozt

Dorothy Grant was the widow of William Grant (free 1666 d. 1676), where upon her husband’s death took over the workshop with the help of her late husband’s apprentices Edward Whinyard and Moses Greenaway, who became free in 1677 and 1681 respectively. In 1679 she took on her brother-in-law Thomas Grant as an apprentice, as well as her two sons Benjamin and William, in 1686 and 1691 respectively. She registered a Britannia standard mark in April 1697. The fact that Dorothy Grant continued her husband’s business for thirty-six years and bound a total of five apprentices is very unusual and testament to a successfully run business. (Mitchell, D., Silversmiths in Elizabethan and Stuart London: their lives and their marks, (2017)., Woodbridge: Boydell Press, p.273).

Pre- 1697 works by Dorothy Grant

A tankard of 1679 (Fogg Museum)

A tankard of 1680 (south Kensington museum, Jackson 1921)

A tankard of 1681 (Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields)

A pair of tankards of 1683, Christie’s London 1 Dec 2004, lot 718 (£22,705 incl. premium)

A tankard of 1686, sold Sotheby’s New York 22 Oct 2002, lot 613 ($10,755 incl. premium)

A tankard of 1686 sold these rooms, 30 Oct 2020, lot 478 (£2,250 incl. prem)

A pair of Chinoiserie mugs of 1689, Christie’s South Kensington, 9 March 2010, Lot 120 (£3,250 incl. premium)

A trefid spoon of 1689, Woolley and Wallis, 24 April 2002, lot 151

A twin handled porringer of 1693, sold Christie’s South Kensington, 16 June 2005, Lot 823 (£2,160 incl. premium)

A tankard of 1691, sold Bonham’s Knightsbridge 20 Feb 2013, lot 204 (£4,125 incl. premium)

A tankard of 1691 (Sir Alfred Downing Fripp (1865-1930), private collection)

A spoon of 1691 (Jackson 1989)

A beaker of 1691 (private collection)