What-is-it question LXXIV.

[2209patrick]

These items were produced in America and Great Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries.
They measure 4 to 5 inches (10.16 to 12.7 cm.) high.
What were they called and what were they generally used for?





Pat.
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[dmay]

I believe they are spout cups, used to feed children and invalids (the early version of the sippy cup!).
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[2209patrick]

Hello dmay.

Well done. You're 100% correct.
( I think you set a record for the fastest correct answer).

Pat.
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[dmay]

These are interesting examples because the pieces I have seen have had two handles, presumably for steadier holding.
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[wev]

Of the six examples on my site, all are single handled:

Andrew Tyler
Bartholomew Green
Benjamin Hiller
Jeremiah Dummer
Moody Russell
Robert Douglas
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[2209patrick]

That's interesting. The only two handled spout cups I could find in my books were British. See the two examples below.



Here's the makers of the spout cups I posted pictures of earlier.
- Top left: Samuel Haugh (1675-1717) of Boston. He was an apprentice of Thomas Savage.
- Top right: Moodey Russell (1694-1761) of Barnstable, Massachusetts.
- Bottom left: John Coney (c.1690) of Boston Massachusetts.
- Bottom right: Henry Mutton (c.1690) of Plymouth (I'm assuming this is British).

Pat.
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[wev]

This is the second of the two spout cups by Jeremiah Dummer. It is in the Boston Museum collection (as is its mate) and is the only known two-handled example by an American silversmith.


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[dmay]

I should have clarified that the examples I have seen have been British. Thanks, wev, for the education about American examples.
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[dragonflywink]

I have several old antique magazines from the 1930s-40s and one has an article on American spout cups, believe it shows about a dozen, almost all from the Boston area. I've been having computer problems and am away from home, but would be glad to scan and post the article in a few days if anyone is interested.

~Cheryl
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[2209patrick]

Hi Cheryl, good to see you back.

I'd like to see the article.
I'm sure WEV and DMAY would be interested too.

Pat.
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[dmay]

Yes, please!
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[kerangoumar]

See also:

V. Isabelle Miller, 'American Silver Spout Cups', Antiques, August 1943, p. 73;

G. Bernard Hughes, 'Old English Spout Cups', Country Life, 17 January 1957, p. 98;

Eric Delieb, 'Medical Silver', Apollo, June 1961, p. 194
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[dragonflywink]

This is the August 1943 Antiques magazine article by V. Isabelle Miller.

~Cheryl

Spout Cups 1
Spout Cups 2
Spout Cups 3
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