The Butler Hoard - 1st July 2025
Lot 111
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND MASSIVE LEADED BRONZE CAULDRON
Estimate £3,000 - £5,000
+ Buyers Premium
Description
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND MASSIVE LEADED BRONZE CAULDRON
BY THOMAS STURTON I, SOUTH PETHERTON, SOMERSET, (FL. 1630-1658),C.1630-40
with everted rim and angular lug handles, the body with a central cord, on three ribbed feet each issuing ribs running up the side of the body, with scratch marks and raised ownership initials 'R B'
43.3cm high, 48.5cm wide, 39.3cm rim diameter
Catalogue Note
This is the largest of all Sturton cauldrons recorded. It is also the earliest bearing scratch marks similar to those recorded on a skillet, dated 1630 (and again of vast proportions).
Literature
Illustrated in See R. Butler & C. Green, 'English Bronze Cooking Vessels & Their Founders 1350-1830', p. 101, no. 82. A smaller very comparable cauldron, probably by Thomas Sturton but without scratch marks, dated '1640', is in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow acc. no. 5-6.164.