51/106

This is the last of three stages in making an iron ladle used by blacksmiths for molten metal. The smith begins with a round bar of wrought iron (stage one) which is beaten out into the shape of a flat handle tapering at the end to a point and a flat round head (stage two). This tapered end is then bent into a ring so that the ladle can be hung up, and the flat head is beaten into a cup shape with a lip at one side (stage three). The donor commissioned the three stages from a local blacksmith.

1 ladle: metal (wrought iron); good condition

MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/106 // NAME: LADLE // NEG NO.: 35/40 // STORAGE: P. Ex. [Permanent Exhibition] Blacksmith.', See also objects 51/104 and 51/105.