Two Handled Silver Bowl
A two handled silver bowl brings together centuries of British and continental metalwork, offering both deep historical porringers and clean twentieth-century vessels for the table.
Two Handled Silver Bowl
A two handled silver bowl spans several distinct functional forms, most notably traditional porringers, Scottish quaichs, sugar bowls, and larger punch bowls or tureens. The selection ranges from severe late seventeenth-century porringers with delicate cast handles to robust Edwardian sugar basins and modernist Arts and Crafts vessels.
The materials shift according to the period and purpose, moving from solid sterling silver in early domestic pieces to silver plate, electroplated nickel silver, and even Tudric pewter in later Arts and Crafts interpretations. Buyers encounter everything from tiny baptismal christening bowls to heavy hunting trophies and Dutch-style brandy bowls.
Materials and Technique
The primary material is sterling silver, supplemented by solid silver, silver plate, and pewter in specific decorative contexts. Silversmiths employed techniques such as planishing - leaving subtle hammer marks across the surface - particularly during the Arts and Crafts revival of the early twentieth century.
Handles were typically cast separately and soldered or riveted securely to the body of the bowl, whether taking the form of traditional pierced ears on a quaich or scrolling handles on a William III porringer.
Two Handled Silver Bowl Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for two handled silver bowl 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.
Some tiny seventeenth-century examples weigh a mere twenty-one grams, proving that historical portions could be remarkably dainty.
Judging Quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the chasing, the weight and gauge of the metal, and the integrity of the maker's marks stamped into the silver. Pieces with intact covers, original ladles, or well-defined planished textures command greater appreciation among collectors.
The balance between the handles and the vessel body dictates the visual harmony of the piece, distinguishing master silversmith work from more utilitarian production.
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The Two Handled Silver Bowl Glossary
- Porringer
- A two-handled bowl used historically for porridge, broth, or posset. These vessels often feature low, rounded bodies and flat, pierced ears for gripping.
- Quaich
- A traditional Scottish drinking vessel featuring two short handles, known locally as lugs. They are often shallow and circular, originating in wood before translation into silver and pewter.
- Planished
- A surface finish showing the controlled, rhythmic indentations of a hammersmithing tool. This technique creates a dull, shimmering texture popular in Arts and Crafts metalwork.
- Sterling silver
- An alloy consisting of pure silver and other metals, usually copper, standardised at a fineness of ninety-two point five percent. This composition provides the necessary durability for domestic holloware.
- Tureen
- A large, deep vessel with two handles designed for serving soups, stews, or punch. They frequently stand on a small foot ring and may include a matching lid.
Two Handled Silver Bowl: Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell a seventeenth-century porringer from a twentieth-century revival piece?
Seventeenth-century pieces, such as those from the William and Mary or William III periods, display hand-beaten irregularities, specific maker's marks like punch initials, and often thinner gauge metal with engraved decoration. Twentieth-century Arts and Crafts revivals utilise heavier gauge silver with visible planishing marks and cleaner stylistic nods to earlier forms.
Examining the hallmarks and the construction of the handle attachments provides the clearest indication of true age.
Were these bowls used for food or display?
Many examples served practical domestic functions, acting as sugar basins, brandy bowls, christening gifts, or dining table vessels for broth and porridge. Over time, heavy silver and plated pieces also functioned as sporting trophies or decorative table centrepieces.
Their survival often depends on whether they remained in daily service or were preserved as presentation items.
What care do antique silver bowls require?
Antique silver benefits from gentle washing in warm water with mild, phosphate-free soap and drying with a soft cotton cloth. Avoid harsh chemical dips that strip the natural patina accumulated over centuries.
Regular, light polishing with a non-abrasive silver cloth preserves the highlights on raised decoration without damaging the underlying metal.