Silver porridge bowl, Jan Kruisweg, Delft, 1734

A museum-quality embossed silver porridge bowl with handles shaped like crown-bearing lions, probably made by the silversmith Jan Kruisweg from Delft. He worked until 1735.

The porridge bowl bears the semi-visible Delft city hallmark, date letter E of 1734, and a maker's mark depicting a jumping dog moving to the left. Jan Kruisweg had such a hallmark, of which Biesboer, Delft Silver (p. 104), has encountered at least five variations. Finally, it is hallmarked with the fineness mark 934/1000.

It's remarkable that the hallmark was also stamped on both ears. Perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that these ears were outsourced to a subcontractor, who delivered them to silversmiths in various Dutch cities, already bearing the hallmark. The subcontractor didn't have a master mark and delivered to various cities, so there was no city hallmark.

The porridge bowl is in excellent condition.

Weight: 121.8 grams. Dimensions: 4 x 11.5 x 21 cm.