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Actions Displays	Thistle measure Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number21754.505 TitleThistle measure DescriptionThis is one of the rarest pieces of pewterware in our magnificent collection. It is a half-gill thistle measure, designed to hold 2 ½ fluid ounces of liquid (74ml). Quite a lot more than your average dram of whisky! While we don’t know exactly who made it, we do know from the marks on the rim near the handle that it was made in Glasgow, probably around 1840-50. This type of measure gets its name from the Scottish thistle flower that it so closely resembles. The base of the measure is in fact hollow, but it gives the piece stability and a pleasing sense of balance. The actual volume of the measure is within the rounded central part and the slightly fluted top. Measures like this one are rare because of their distinctive shape – in fact, they became illegal because of it! New Weights and Measures Regulations dating from 1907 required that all measures should empty completely when tilted to an angle of 120°. The rounded belly of this measure meant that some liquid almost always remained inside, even after careful pouring. Most measures like this one were therefore condemned and destroyed. Production placeGlasgow Production date 1840 - 1850 Object nameMeasure MaterialPewter Dimensions Height: 86 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number21754.505

TitleThistle measure

DescriptionThis is one of the rarest pieces of pewterware in our magnificent collection. It is a half-gill thistle measure, designed to hold 2 ½ fluid ounces of liquid (74ml). Quite a lot more than your average dram of whisky! While we don’t know exactly who made it, we do know from the marks on the rim near the handle that it was made in Glasgow, probably around 1840-50. This type of measure gets its name from the Scottish thistle flower that it so closely resembles. The base of the measure is in fact hollow, but it gives the piece stability and a pleasing sense of balance. The actual volume of the measure is within the rounded central part and the slightly fluted top. Measures like this one are rare because of their distinctive shape – in fact, they became illegal because of it! New Weights and Measures Regulations dating from 1907 required that all measures should empty completely when tilted to an angle of 120°. The rounded belly of this measure meant that some liquid almost always remained inside, even after careful pouring. Most measures like this one were therefore condemned and destroyed.

Production placeGlasgow

Production date 1840 - 1850

Object nameMeasure

MaterialPewter

Dimensions

Height: 86 mm