Miniature Bleeding Bowl, David Clayton

This is a rare example of a miniature silver bleeding bowl made by one of the finest exponents of miniature silversmithing - David Clayton. The bowl with its flat pierced handle is an exact replica of the full sized version likely to be encountered from the early 1720's. So called bleeding bowls may well have been used for letting blood, but a more likely use would have been as a wine taster or a porringer. This silver toy is in excellent condition and bears the "DC" makers mark and lion passant to the rim.