Engraved with the arms of the See of Wells empaling Ken.

The dish belonged originally to Bishop Thomas Ken (1637–1711). He was a Scholar of Winchester College (1652); Fellow of Winchester (1666-84); Bishop of Bath and Wells (1685-90). Ken was the author of several well-known hymns and a book of prayers for the Scholars of Winchester College.

A chafing stand was filled with hot water or burning coals and placed underneath a plate of food to keep it warm. They were more commonly made of copper, brass, iron or pewter. There are very few examples in silver surviving from the 17^th century.

Literature: Charles Oman, ‘The Winchester College Plate’, The Connoisseur (January, 1962), p. 30 (illustrated); Michael Clayton, Collectors Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great Britain and North America (Woodbridge, 1985), p. 79.

Provenance: Thomas Ken (1637-1711), by whom given to John Jenkyns (d. 1731), thence by descent to Hugh Hobhouse Jenkyns (E, 1892-97); presented by Mrs Jenkyns in 1951

Locations: Treasury, Gallery 1