Measure, duck and hen measure

Double measure of the ‘duck and hen’ type with conjoined bowls of different capacities for spirits or medicine. An unidentified touch within a circular rope border of a bird, profile to left, surmounted with the initials ‘L’ and ‘S’ has been struck inside the smaller bowl. The pewterer’s touch is of a style used in the second half of the 17th century which suggests that this is one of the earliest recorded measures of its kind.

Almost identical measures were used in the Netherlands for coffee. They were also used in Ireland in the 19th century as spirit measures and were still being made in the 20th century in England. A similar vessel described as a ‘Medicine Measure’ is illustrated in a 1921 Gaskell & Chambers Ltd trade catalogue (No. 4131) available in 1oz and ½ at 15/- per dozen and 2oz and 1oz at 30/- per dozen (see JPS Vol 9. no. 2 Autumn, 1993, p 79).