An extremely fine, and unusually engraved, early George II Pap Boat made in London in 1728
An extremely fine, and unusually engraved, early George II Pap Boat made in London in 1728
375775
Pap Boats were vessels which were used to feed babies and young children, as well as older individuals. These were introduced into England during the first quarter of the 18th century, although "Pap", a mixture of bread and milk, had been consumed since the 16th century. This example is of typical form with an elongated spout and slightly baluster sides. Early examples are usually plain in design, however this piece has been beautifully engraved with a frieze of harebells and flower heads in lozenge frames, interspersed with very finely executed satyr masks, in an inverted "C" scroll cartouche. The base is engraved with three sets of contemporary initials, indicating that it was a gift when first made. The Pap Boat is marked in the decoration and displays crisp marks, however only half of the maker's mark is shown, so we are unable to attribute it to a particular maker. It is however one of the finest examples we have seen over the years and must have come from the workshops of a very fine silversmith.
Length: 4.25 inches, 10.63 cm.
Width: 2.5 inches, 6.3 cm.
Height: 1 inch, 2.5 cm.
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