POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1400

A complete cast copper alloy toy or miniature cauldron, dating to the late Medieval or early Post Medieval period, circa AD 1400 - 1600. In plan the cauldron is sub-circular with a rounded body and loop handles. The cauldron has a flared rim with a flat rim with rounded edges. The rim tapers inward to the neck before extending again to a rounded body. The base of the body has a slightly sagging base.Two diametrically opposed looped handles are positioned from the rim to the upper belly of the pot. The cross section of these loops is rod like and they are angular in profile. From the base of the pot three legs extend, these are approximately 4.3mm in height. These would have supported the weight of the vessel evenly. In cross section the legs are broadly oval with a flat internal face. The legs are rounded on the outer surface and they flare outwards along their length. The toy cauldron is decorated on one face centrally placed between the two lugs. The decoration consists of a moulded rounded pellet. The underside of the cauldron is slightly damaged, there is a small hole towards the outer edge. The toy cauldron is a light green colour with a relatively thick polished patina which is abraded in places and covers most of the artefact.Similar examples have been illustrated in Forsyth and Egan (2005). This example is most likely to fit into their classification as a Type 1 toy Cauldron and be best paralleled with illustrated example 2.9 dated to the 15th - 16th centuries. Similar toys have also been recorded on the PAS database, including an example from the Stratford on Avon district (WMID-E6F6E4) and Tong in Shropshire (WMID-A45167).The cauldron measures 20.87mm height, 17.95mm diameter at rim, 18.80mm diameter at middle of the pot, thickness at the body is 5.23mm and the weight is 15.1grams.Forsyth, H. and Egan, G., (2005) Toys, Trifles and Trinkets: Base Metal Miniatures from London 1200 to 1800 London, Unicorn Press Ltd.