Busacca Gallery

Antique Pewter Pap Boat: Lovely, rare antique pewter Pap Boat, harpy or dolphin figural dating back to the 1800's. At first I thought this was an oil lamp, open pitcher or small creamer, odd as it is, but found that it is a very old Pap Boat. Very interesting as a work of art, really. Pewter finish to a softer metal, though not maleable. It is not spelter or anything brittle like that. Another alloy, very fine. Measurements L 5 1/2 X 2 1/2. Dates to late 1700s at earliest, to mid-1800s. Modeled on the form of a mythical sea creature whose mouth opens to form the spout of the pap boat. A similar piece was sold at Christies in February 1996 and there is also an identical example in the Brussels medical museum. Made from pewter and dating to the mid 19th century. pap or feeding bowl in excellent condition for its age and years. ornately designed engraved example found in the 19th century. The "pap", a soft food for infants or the sick, was made from bread boiled or softened in milk or water, sometimes sweetened with sugar or honey. *All of the art is edited and chosen by us for its high quality and workmanship before posting. These collectibles have been selected with the artist & collector in mind. We are committed to enhancing our customer’s lives by discovering creating, and pointing out only the best art we can find in the world today. We Are Taste-Makers, Art Advisers, Consultants & Publishers Of Spectacular Art Stories. Our job is to be intermediaries between buyers and sellers. We are vetting for high end art patrons. We are determined to catalog the world's most exceptional art and share it with everyone.

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Small, circular or boat-shaped container without feet that curves into a short lip at one end. Of silver, gold or ceramic, it was used for feeding pap (a soft mixture of bread, sugar and water or milk) to infants and invalids. Some have covers, flat, looped or stem handles and a matching spoon. Plain or sparsely ornamented, they sometimes have repouss? bowls, embossed or gadrooned rims and a coin embedded in the interior. The form appeared c. 1710 and was made in Europe, America and China until c. 1830, when it was superseded by the bubby-pot, a type of feeding pot invented in the late 18th century.