Half-pint measure

Date1695-1714

MediumPewter

DimensionsOH: 4 15/16"; Diam (base): 2 9/16"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1981-178

DescriptionMeasure. Baluster shaped: Conventional hammerhead thumbpiece of lightened late form with elongated wedge attachment burnt on to cover; lower extension of thumbpiece member forming central knuckle of hinge; conventional flat circular cover with incised rims at edge and in center of top; conventional baluster shaped body with short vertical galleried rim and outward-flaring base with plain lower edge; conventional solid scroll handle of elongated D-shaped section burnt on at rim and below body seam; barrel hinge with outer knuckles and raised lower hinge plate of rectangular form part of costing; handle joined with body at lower attachment with a short cylindrical strut representative of late hammerhead measures. House mark of standing angel facing right within an inner circle bordered by 'GEORGE" (indistinct)" above and "BV(U)SSEY" below separated on either side by a fleur-de-lis flanked by pellets within an outlined circle on center-top of cover. Owner’s initials "GB" with lower parts of crowns above stamped on face of handle, presumably for George Bussey. Owner's initials "EB" scratched on underside of base.
Label TextPewter measures in standard sizes of verified capacities have been used in England in the commerce of alcoholic beverages since, at least, the fifteenth century. Inventories indicate their presence both in taverns and households. The vast majority of surviving English measures dating before 1800 are of baluster form. Two of the earliest of these display a squat baluster shape with a pronounced outward inclination to the upper part of their bodies. The earlier of these from the River Thames is thought to date from the mid to late sixteenth century, while the other was aboard Henry VIII's warship Mary Rose, which sank off Portsmouth, England, in 1545. Baluster measures of sixteenth-century or early seventeenth-century date usually are of slender outline with their covers raised with the aid of a hammerhead, ball, or wedge thumbpiece. The majority of baluster measures are lidded, and they are classified according to their form of thumbpiece. This is a very late hammerhead example; most baluster measures of this date have the newer bud thumbpiece (See also CWF accessions 1933-230, 1933-231, 1950-851, 1950-853, 1955-419, 1958-586, 1958-587, 1966-303, and 1969-34).

This splendid measure has all of the features one could want in a measure of its date, starting with its handsome conformation and condition, continuing with its marks of manufacture and ownership, and ending with its provenance of familiar and evocative names. It has the less common hammerhead thumbpiece. It is clearly marked by the maker, which is not always the case with measures. When Peal recorded this unidentified mark, he took it from a smaller hammerhead measure of gill size in his own collection.1 He also drew attention to an unidentified "IW" touch mark of similar design and date. Peal notes that this mark also appears on a hammerhead and bud measure, both about 1700. One wonders if these touches did not belong to members of a family that specialized in the production of measures.

The large pictorial mark in the center of the cover is a representative housemark, sometimes found on the covers of measures belonging to public houses or taverns. Of good size and distinctive design, these identifying marks usually contain the emblem of the house and the initials or name of the owner. George Bussey's name not only appears within the house mark, but his initials are also stamped on the handle.

The English have used marks to verify the capacity of measures from the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509). These usually involve the initials of a sovereign with royal crown above. Relative to this collection, certain marks, such as "WR" with royal crown above is not particularly helpful in precise dating. It was used from the reign of William III (1688-1702) until the adoption of the imperial standard in 1826 and concurrently with "AR" and various "GR" marks. The "AR" with royal crown above, as on this measure, appears to have been used only during the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714).

One of the pleasures of early pewter, especially with pieces of conspicuous quality, is often their associations with notable collectors and dealers. The charming notes from Howard Herschel Cotterell to Major John Richardson, dated November 11 and 25, 1931, came folded up inside this measure. They give a sense of immediacy and characterization to these past individuals with familiar names. Cotterell writes of the virtues of this "little gem." Then he observes, "Its only blemish -- this is rather quaint -- some one, at some time, has pulled out the front of the lip to form a small spout. It could easily be hammered back, but to me these signs of former use do not detract from, but rather add to the interest of such a piece."

This measure was made in the same manner as most baluster measures. The body was cast in upper and lower sections with the break at the broadest swell of the body. The cover was cast in the form of a thick disk. These castings were skimmed, and circles were turned into the cover before assembly and before the body was soldered together. The thumbpiece (including wedge and the central knuckle of the hinge), as well as the handle (including the outer hinge knuckles and the lower handle strut) were each cast in a single mould. For greater strength these moulds during casting were clamped or held directly against the cover and body. Elements applied in this manner were described in the period as "burnt on," for the metal of the parts being cast against, in this instance, the cover and the body, actual melt when the new metal is cast. In this process, a damp cloth was placed between the underside of the cover and the clamp or tongs used to hold the mould, as well as inside the body behind both points of the attachment of the handle. Since metal is momentarily melted at the points of attachment, the fabric leaves an impression, known as a "linen mark." Its presence provides useful information about fabrication and authenticity. One is most used to seeing it in the attachment of handles or ears on porringers.

1. Christopher A. Peal, British Pewter and Britannia Metal for Pleasure and Investment (London: John Gifford Ltd., 1971), p. 67, fig. 15c; Peal et al, Pewter of Great Britain (London: John Gifford Ltd., 1983), p. 67, fig. 37; Peal, "18th Century British Pewter," The Antique Collector, XLIV (June-July, 1973), p. 159, fig. 6. This measure not only has the same touch mark as the Williamsburg measure, but it also has the same "AR" with royal crown verification mark stamped on its cover, as well as stamped owner's initials "IB," possibly for another member of the Bussey family. This measure was in Peal's collection. It was sold by Price Glover of New York City to Peter Thompson of Easton, Maryland in 1978.

InscribedHouse mark of a standing angel with "GEORGE" above and "·[fleur-de-lis]·BV[U]SSEY·[fleur-de-lis]·" below within an outlined circle on upper face of cover in center. Owner's initials "GB" with crowns above stamped on face of handle, presumably for George Bussey. Owner's initials "EB" scratched on underside of base. Collector's ink inscription "Minchin/415" on underside of base.
MarkingsTouch mark "R·W" with a mullet above and a pellet to either side and one below within a shaped reserve on face of body below rim to left of handle (Peal MPM 6018b). Verification mark "AR" with royal crown above within a conforming reserve on upper face of cover.
ProvenanceCyril C. Minchin, Bucklebury, Berkshire (found near Reading). H.H. Cotterell, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire (purchased from Cyril C. Minchin). Major John Richardson (purchased from Howard Herschel Cotterell about 1931). Scot Nicholson (purchased from Major John Richardson). Royal Institution of Cornwall (given by Scott Nicholson). Cyril C. Minchin (acquired by exchange for a piece of Cornish pewter from the Royal Institution of Cornwall in Truro). Purchased by Colonial Williamsburg from Cyril C. Minchin.