Post-Medieval — 17th century

Slip-top spoon

Latten is a binary alloy of copper (70-80%) and zinc (20-30%). So the composition is identical to brass and the terms brass and latten are used interchangeably in early texts. In the 17th century the alloy often included a third element of iron (1-2%) usually an impurity, which results in a rather brittle metal. The proportion of iron seems to increase during the course of the 17th century. Latten spoons were not made in large numbers in England after the end of the 17th century. Latten spoonmakers are an ellusive group, and, the dating of latten spoons rests largely on stylistic features and their similarility to pewter and silver spoon styles. This spoon appears to have been acid-stripped as the surface is marked and pitted. Slip-top spoons were made from the end of the 16th to late 17th century.

Category:
Post-Medieval
Object ID:
A3468
Object name:
Slip-top spoon
Object type:

spoon, slip-top spoon, slipped in the stalk

Artist/Maker:
M.R.
Related people:

Related events:

Related places:

London

Production date:
17th century
Material:

latten, copper alloy

Measurements/duration:
L 153 mm, L (stem) 94 mm, W (bowl) 49 mm (overall)
Part of:
—
On display:
—
Record quality:
40%
Part of this object:
—
Owner Status & Credit:

Permanent collection

Copyright holder:

digital image © London Museum

Image credit:
—
Creative commons usage:
CC BY-NC 4.0
License this image:

To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.

Tags

Post-Medieval Tudor Elizabethan Jacobean Stuart Architecture & Home