An unusual and large 16th or 17th century leaded bronze cauldron


With flared rim and angular lug handles fitted with an articulated iron handle, a founder's scratch mark near one handle, the bag-shaped body raised on three slightly inset short legs with a pronounced central rib, three slender ribs extending upwards onto the body and terminating in pellets, a similar set of three ribs and pellets descending from each lug handle, 40cm rim diameter x 33cm high excluding handle
|The shape of this cauldron and its slightly inset legs are features of cauldrons made on the Continent, rather than England. However, another cauldron, with the same unusual feature of decorative ribs terminating in pellets emanating from the legs (but not the handles), was recorded in a 2003 loan exhibition of cooking vessels. It bore a scratchmark which is different to the mark to this cauldron and which was not than attributable to any particular founder. The catalogue noted that 'the relatively low nickel content...of the alloy from which the cauldron is cast...tends to confirm a 16th century date.' The catalogue also notes that the ribs and pellets had not been recorded on a cauldron before [see R. Butler & C. Green, English Bronze Cooking Vessels & their Founders 1350 - 1830 (2003), p. 149, Catalogue 154].The scratchmark to this cauldron - a series of Vs, or angled lines - is not recorded.