A rare Charles II gold miniature porringer with only maker's mark IH with a pellet below and above, in a shaped device, circa 1670 Slightly tapering circular form on a stepped circular foot, with two reeded double scroll handles, the interior is stipple engraved with the initials 'JNB' conjoined, the underside of the base is also engraved with the initials 'JNB' conjoined, height 3.7cm, weight 49.5gms. Footnotes: Provenance: Magnificent Gold; Christie's London, 20 November 2001, lot 16 From the collection of English Gold formed by the late Nathaniel Mayer Victor, 3rd Baron Rothschild (1910-1990) Anonymous Sale; Christie's London, 27 March 1985, lot 199 The Rt. Hon. Michael Noble; Christie's London, 13 December 1967, lot 44 (£1,300 to How) The Michael Noble collection of silver and gold on 13 December 1967 contained twelve gold lots but these were not all English, and included a number of miniature silver objects with this porringer being the only gold example. Exhibited: London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1997-2000 Literature: A. Grimwade, 'A New List of English Gold Plate', Connoisseur, May 1951, pt. I, p. 82, illustrated p.80 M. Clayton, Christie's Pictorial History of English and American Silver, Oxford, p. 63, illustrated fig. 2 The use of these miniatures 'toys' were probably used for children's dolls houses, some suggest to have been used as samples. Given this is made of gold and of significant value the most likely use of this gold porringer was as a christening present or, perhaps, as a gift to the mother of a newborn child. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing