Silver Two Handle Cup
A silver two handle cup brings centuries of ceremonial drinking and presentation to the table, spanning solid sterling vessels and plated loving cups.
Silver Two Handle Cup
A silver two handle cup encompasses traditional porringers, loving cups, quaichs, and campana shaped presentation vessels spanning from the seventeenth century through to the mid-twentieth century. Buyers searching this phrase encounter diverse regional styles, including early English and Irish porringers alongside Scottish quaichs and monumental trophies.
The pieces on this page draw from Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods, executed in sterling silver, silver plate, and pewter. Domestic christening bowls and harvest vessels sit alongside formal racing trophies and commemorative jubilee cups.
Materials and construction
Makers utilised sterling silver, Old Sheffield plate, silver plate, and pewter, often shaping vessels through hammering and planishing surfaces by hand. Applied cast handles, gilt interiors, and fitted ceramic liners appear across various pieces to strengthen rims and enrich the visual contrast.
Surface decoration ranges from smooth polished campana profiles to hand-beaten Arts and Crafts textures and chased floral motifs. Construction techniques evolved from seventeenth-century riveted and soldered porringer bodies to twentieth-century stamped and spun barware.
Silver Two Handle Cup Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver two handle cup among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Materials span sterling silver, silver plate, Old Sheffield plate, copper, pewter, and glazed ceramic.
Judging the quality of handles and form
Quality rests in the proportional balance between the twin handles and the central bowl, ensuring the vessel sits firmly on its foot. Fine examples display crisp chasing and hand-planished marks that retain structural integrity without excessive thinning of the metal.
The attachment point of each handle reveals the maker's skill, requiring sturdy soldering or casting that withstands actual lifting rather than purely decorative assembly. Original gilding inside the bowl and clear hallmarks add substantially to the integrity of the piece.
Nathan and Hayes·Joseph Rodgers and Sons·Thomas Sutton·R E Stone
The Silver Two Handle Cup Glossary
- Porringer
- A shallow two-handled bowl used historically for broth or porridge, frequently appearing in seventeenth and eighteenth-century domestic silver. These vessels often feature pierced flat handles.
- Quaich
- A traditional Scottish two-handled drinking vessel characterised by a shallow circular bowl and flat projecting lugs or handles. They appear in silver, pewter, and wood.
- Campana
- A bell-shaped vessel profile often utilised for classical wine coolers and presentation trophy cups during the Georgian period. This form provides a wide rim and stable foot.
Silver Two Handle Cup: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a silver porringer used for?
A porringer served originally as a small bowl for soft foods or porridges in early households. Over time, many evolved into ornamental christening bowls and presentation pieces.
Today, buyers display them as decorative vessels or utilise them as small desk bowls for everyday items.
Are loving cups meant for drinking?
Historical loving cups were constructed to be passed around communal gatherings for shared toasts. Multiple handles allowed participants to steady the large vessel easily during banquets.
Most examples found today function primarily as decorative display items, presentation trophies, or collection centerpieces.
What distinguishes Old Sheffield plate?
Old Sheffield plate involves a historical technique of fusing a thin layer of silver onto a copper base under heat. This method creates distinctive physical traits visible on older utilitarian vessels.
Examining the edges often reveals subtle traces of the underlying copper core where the silver layer terminates.