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Wasborough (Manufacturer)

This eighteenth-century skillet, used for cooking on an open fire, is made of cast bell metal (an alloy of copper and tin) and stands on three legs. The name 'Wasborough' appears in relief on the handle - Wasborough was a bell founder in Hatherleigh, Devon, 1756-1847. The skillet was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum from Dunster, Somerset.

1 skillet: metal (bell metal); good condition

Pre-MERL list / description – [Victoria and Albert Museum] ‘Ironwork objects for transfer to Museum of English Rural Life, Reading ... No. 39. Skillet. Bronze, cast with the name WASBROUGH in relief on the handle. English (Acquired at Dunster, Somerset): 18th century.', MERL ‘Provisional Group Card’ form – ‘Provisional Group card for: // Date Acquired: // Group: Dom cooking // Negative: 60/4395 // Period: Skillet// Place of Origin: Victoria & Albert Museum // Number: 59/237 V&A 39 // Complied by: date: // Typed: // 41 [long] 17cm [diameter] [pencil sketch]. // V&A description: Skillet. Bronze, cast with the name WASBROUGH in relief on the handle. English (Acquired at Dunster, Somerset) 18thc. Wasbrough Bristol brass founders - 1756-1847 (D.S. Eveleigh).’, Citation in publication - Domestic Bygones by Shire Publications Ltd., Letter, MERL to enquirer, 29 September 1982 - '... Wasborough was a bell founder in Hatherleigh, Devon sometime during the first half of the eighteenth centry[sic]. The firm must have had a large output of skillets, since examples bearing this name are relatively common. // Your skillet is made of bell metal incidently, which is an alloy of copper and tin (brass being an alloy of copper and zinc).'

Hatherleigh

1700-01-01 - 1799-12-31

Eighteenth century