A RARE SET OF THREE PEWTER THISTLE MEASURES HALF-GILL TO EIGTH-GILL

A RARE SET OF THREE PEWTER THISTLE MEASURES HALF-GILL TO EIGTH-GILL

GLASGOW, C.1870

no maker's mark, which appears to be normal with this type of measure, two with a capacity label to the body front, the ½-gill with two Glasgow verification marks to the left of the handle, the ¼-gill again with two verification marks: a crowned ‘’ over ‘448” (Leith Burgh) and 'WT', which are probably the initials of an inspector, each 'S'-curve handle with button attachment at top and lower strut, with a raised thumbrest and vestigial curving terminal, neck and base with strengthened rims (3)

2½, 1¼ and 0.625 fl. oz., 8.2cm high (max)

Provenance

The Carl Ricketts Collection of Pewter.

Catalogue Note

These are among the scarcest of Scottish measures, see P. Spencer Davies), ‘Scottish Pewter’, p.210-12. Their rarity is due to a 1907 change in the UK law of weights and measures, which stipulated measures had to empty when tilted at an angle of 120°. The bulbous lower body prevented this, so most were taken out of trade use.