POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1600

A lead-alloy miniature frying pan of post-Medieval date.The pan is circular in plan, has a flat central area and an angled rim with a beaded top edge. At the top there is a break in this beading, indicating the point from which the now-missing handle would have protruded. Within the base of the pan are two moulded fish, set at 90 degrees to the handle and arranged head to tail. These fish are reasonably well moulded, with facial features, fins, tails and scales clearly depicted. The pan is slightly damaged and corroded. It measures 35.4mm in diameter, 4.8mm high and weighs 9.8g.Several similar frying pans containing fish have been found in London and are illustrated and discussed by Egan and Forsyth (2005: 119-123). It is suggested that the London examples probably date from the 17th century, whereafter an oval pan was commonly used for frying fish.