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Skillet

ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This skillet is a small cooking vessel for standing on a hearth. It was made in the Fathers' family foundry in Montacute, Somerset in around 1700.

The signed handle of the skillet is one of ten recorded variations of this design and was used by John Fathers I (1636-88) and John Fathers II (1670-1749). The former used loam casts for his skillets and the founder's scratch mark was often scratched in the mould. This skillet is more likely to have been produced by John Fathers II as his later sand-cast models like this example have no scratch marks.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bronze, cast
Brief description
Skillet of cast bronze, the handle signed in the mould, 'JOHN FATHERS', English, 17th century. Of usual skillet form, the legs of semi circular section, the handle with billeted ornament round the edge. H. 7.5 inches, Width.17.5 inches
Physical description
Skillet with circular bowl and long upwards pointing handle signed in the mould, 'JOHN FATHERS' with beaded ornament around the edge, the three legs of semi-circular section.
Dimensions
  • Tip of handle height: 18.9cm
  • Back of bowl height: 16.1cm
  • Front of bowl height: 14.1cm
  • Length: 44.4cm
  • Bowl diameter: 19.9cm
  • Handle top length: 24.6cm
Object history
This skillet was made in the Fathers' family foundry in Montacute, Somerset in around 1700. The Museum bought it from Mr A.K. Greaves in 1920 for £4.

The signed handle of the skillet is one of ten recorded variations of this design and was used by John Fathers I (1636-88) and John Fathers II (1670-1749). The former used loam casts for his skillets and the founder's scratch mark was often scratched in the mould. This skillet is more likely to have been produced by John Fathers II as his later sand-cast models like this example have no scratch marks.

Historical significance: The foundry has been the subject of extensive research and its links with the Sturton foundry in nearby South Petherton have been examined in detail and published. (See bibliography)
Subject depicted
Summary
This skillet is a small cooking vessel for standing on a hearth. It was made in the Fathers' family foundry in Montacute, Somerset in around 1700.

The signed handle of the skillet is one of ten recorded variations of this design and was used by John Fathers I (1636-88) and John Fathers II (1670-1749). The former used loam casts for his skillets and the founder's scratch mark was often scratched in the mould. This skillet is more likely to have been produced by John Fathers II as his later sand-cast models like this example have no scratch marks.
Bibliographic references
  • Roderick Butler & Christopher Green, English Bronze Cooking Vessels & Their Founders 1350-1830, Handbook to accompany a Loan Exhibition, 23rd September - 11th October 2003, Honiton, Devon
  • Christopher Green and Roderick Butler, "Bronze Founding in 17th-Century Somerset: Documentary and Archaeological Evidence", )Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, Vol. 13, June 2005, pp. 18-23
Collection
Accession number
M.100-1920

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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