[Regia-NA] Methers, Cauldrons, and Skillets

Sat Jun 11 19:47:11 EDT 2005

"Domestic Wooden Artefacts in Britain and Ireland from Neolithic to Viking 
Times" by Caroline Earwood (University of Exeter Press, 1993, ISBN 
0-85989-389-8) has the following to say about methers:

"Whereas the stave-built vessel is one of the most common wooden artefacts 
from sites of the early historic period in Ireland, very few are known from 
the bog finds which make up the bulk of the evidence for the medieval and 
post-medieval periods.  Stave-built vessels were made and used in medieval 
Dublin and other urban settlements but evidence from the rural areas shows 
that the majority of wooden vessels found here were produced by carving. 
Even in urban area two-piece carved buckets, such as a thirteenth-century 
pair from Armagh, were sometimes used instead of stave-built vessels. 
Observations on rural life in Ireland dating from the seventeenth and 
eighteenth centuries describe vessels of this archaic type which had become 
virtually obsolete in the rest of Europe.  Perhaps one of the better-known 
types of vessel is the mether described by John Dunton in the late 
seventeenth century as 'a square wooden vessel called a meddar all of one 
piece cutt out of a tree' (MacLysaght 1969, 330)."  (Earwood, p. 237)

The source she refers to is Irish Life in the Seventeenth Century, by E. 
MacLysaght, Irish University PRess, Dublin, 1969.

Not a lot, but a start.

--charlotte mayhew

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Yolli" <yolli at lineone.net>
To: "'list-Regia-NA'" <list-regia-na at lig.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 5:46 AM
Subject: RE: [Regia-NA] Methers, Cauldrons, and Skillets

> Hi William,
>
> I can't say I've ever heard of a Mether unless it's the phonetic way of
> spelling measure by someone with a lisp...
>
> There are though, and from far off Novgorod stave built bowls, pots and
> even spouted vessels. If I was clever in any way I'd point you to a book
> as reference but all I've got are photocopies. You buffoon Williamson!
>
> As for one piece raised copper alloy ( bronze ) cauldrons, I think that
> they are kosher for our period. I'm certain that they were in use in the
> Pagan Saxon period ( 600's in Lechlade etc ) but just a little hazy on
> later finds without pouring over some site reports. Maybe Steve has one
> that can spring to mind.
>
> The rotary pans you mention such as the example from Oseberg ( much like
> those measuring wheels you may have used in the school play ground ) are
> ok but heat up too quickly and burn the base of your buns or cakes -
> fire control I know. The real trick is obviously a low fire and
> something stable to rest the platter on - it's not the first time a drop
> scone has rolled and drooled into the embers.
>
> As for the spiral 'thing', I have found it best for beating very heavy
> carpets; splatting huge bugs; and for searing my enemies asses ( not the
> four legged sort... ). I do wonder if they were used to heat water
> indirectly in the manner of a removable kettle element.
>
> As for the frying pans, they too are fine. One great example comes from
> York, although I will just add that it had fused glass inside it and not
> a full English breakfast.
>
> Cheers, Roll.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: list-regia-na-bounces at lig.net
> [mailto:list-regia-na-bounces at lig.net] On Behalf Of Conall
> Sent: 11 June 2005 08:55
> To: Regia Anglorum NA
> Subject: [Regia-NA] Methers, Cauldrons, and Skillets
>
> Greetings all,
>    I am coming out of the email shadows hoping that some of you can
> help me
> with some research that I am trying to do regarding some early Irish
> cookware and a drinking vessel.
>
>    First, I am trying to find out about something called a "mether"
> cup.
> It is a four-sided wooden vessel from early Ireland, usually about 8
> inches
> tall and about six inches wide, with a wooden handle on all four sides.
> The
> name "mether" may originate from the word for "measure"; it may
> originally
> have been a vessel for measurement.
>
>       I am trying to provenance what the *earliest* date for these
> objects
> is.  I have pictures of one from Dunhallow in Co. Cork and another in a
> "coffee table book".  Is there any evidence for these being in use
> during
> the 9th-11th Centuries?  Can anyone out there point me at some better
> references?
>
>    Second, I know from other research that many Scandinavian cauldrons
> during the "Viking Age" were made in sections and riveted together (very
>
> similar to a "spangenhelm" it seems), as was the much earlier famous
> Gundestrup Cauldron.  I have seen examples of Bronze Age Irish bowls
> (from
> the Lagore dig by Hencken) that seem to have been made of one piece of
> bronze hammered out.  Can anyone out there refer me to some examples of
> Irish iron cauldrons from the "Viking Age"?
>
> An lastly, this will perhaps seem like a stupid question but please bear
>
> with me.  I have seen examples of Scandinavian "skillets" that consist
> of a
> shallow iron disk affixed by a single or double rivet to an iron handle
> about 24 inches or so long.  These appear to have been for cooking
> unleavened flat breads and such.
>
>  My question is what, if anything, did the early Irish use for a
> "skillet"??
>
>    If anyone can refer me to some better sources than I have found thus
> far
> I would appreciate it.
>
>  Thank you for your time,
>
>   William Russell
>
> **************************************************
> Happiness is more generally and equally diffus'd among Savages than in
> civilized societies. No European who has tasted savage life can
> afterwards
> bear to live in our societies.
>       -Benjamin Franklin, 1770
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