Thomas Sturton skillet

This is a copper alloy skillet, a type of saucepan which stood on three legs. It would be used for cooking on an open fire. This skillet is decorated with the initials of the owner, ‘IPE’, and a date of 1670, which are cast into the surface of the vessel. This inscription may mark the skillet as a wedding gift – ‘IP’ are the initials of the husband and ‘E’ is the first initial of his wife. The original legs of the vessel are now missing and have been replaced with iron legs, riveted onto the body. Along the skillet’s handle is an inscription: 'THIS IS GOOD WARE TS'. This shows that it was made by Thomas Sturton II (c.1629-1683) whose family ran a foundry in the Somerset village of South Petherton. Many vessels still exist with Sturton family foundry marks and initials, suggesting that they were the leading supplier of bronze cooking wares in southern England.

Cooking vessels such as skillets can provide some idea about how wealthy a household was, as wealthier households would be more likely to have more than one, in varying sizes. As they were considered valuable, a household would often pass such vessels down over several generations, repairing any holes rather than buying new ones.