ladle, kitchen
Object
Accession Number
E120Alternate Name
basting ladleDescription
A large copper ladle with a spout. The flat handle is attached to the flat-bottomed basin with three copper rivets. The end of the handle is curved into a hook.Narrative
This copper ladle was probably used to transfer soup or stock in a 19th Century kitchen. Its large size would permit rapid filling of numerous soup tureens, a requirement at ball suppers where more than one serving table was in use. At Craigdarroch, for instance, when as many as 110 guests would be served supper, there were probably serving tables in the dining room and billiard room. The absence of tin-lining within the bowl of this ladle suggests that it was not used in actual cooking (which would be unsafe if food sat in the ladle for a prolonged period due to the risk of verdigris poisoning), though its flat bottom would allow it to stand on a stove top or in a bain-marie if it was full of liquid.The crisp shape of the spout allows for very controlled pouring. This would be important in transferring liquids into serving dishes such as tureens but also into numerous entrée dishes and into sauce boats.
It is possible that this ladle was designed for some purpose other than kitchen use. For example, it would be useful in candle-making, although the ladle’s inability to stand upright unless full of liquid presents a significant limitation to its suitability for that purpose.=
History of Use
Unknown. Purchased at public auction.
