CHAFING DISH

A copper alloy partial handle and handle attachment lug from a Late Medieval to Post Medieval chafing dish dating from about AD 1400 - 1600.

Only part of the loop handle survives; the straight bar that passes through the attachment lug, and part of the sides. The sides are concave and curved. The sides are hexagonal in cross section. There are various file marks from finishing on the outer sides. One face of the handle is decorated with regularly spaced small circles stamped onto the surface. The other face is plain.

The lug is oval in plan and hexagonal in cross-section with rounded corners. It has a collar at one end beyond which is the stub of a circular rivet which would have attached to the vessel wall. The loop has a slightly off centre hole through it to hold the handle; the hole displays wear and measures 7mm diameter.

The handle is 38.1 long, 21.1mm wide and 5.2mm thick. The lug is 31.5mm long, 18mm wide and 12mm thick. The object weighs 43gm. Overall, the two components measure 39.4mm long, 38.1mm wide and 18mm thick.

Database record SOM-1CB047 is a similar example of attachment lug and notes that:"Chafing dishes were domestic utensils made of metal or earthenware for holding burning charcoal or other combustible material. This was then used to cook food or keep it hot at the table. This particular type of handle is found on type B1 or D1 chafing-dishes. These types of dish date to the 15th or 16th century (Lewis 1973, 60-70)".

Comparable handles can also be seen in Margeson (1993:80, nos 489 and 490) where a 15th and 16th century date is also suggested.