Plummet
Magdalen Feline (d.1796)
Category
Silver
Date
1754
Materials
Silver
Measurements
114 mm (Height)
Collection
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
NT 935877
Summary
Silver item, Magdalen Feline, 1754 (?), part of Lady Mary Booth's toilet service, apparently unmarked, possibly a hook to pull laces and stays on female clothing, though described in the 1791 inventory as a 'Silver Vase to Hold Shot'. Similar items in comparable collections have also been described as an occasional dressing weight or 'plummit' (Lomax and Rothwell, 'Country House Silver from Dunham Massey', 2006, pp. 144). The lower part of the shaped body is raised and has an applied horizontal moulding. The central section and screw on cover made from seamed sheet (now soldered). The surmounting hook is cast. The interior is loaded for weight, possibly with lead shot. It is engraved with three horizontal borders of shells, scrolls and interlaced strapwork in varying styles (Lomax and Rothwell, 'Country House Silver from Dunham Massey', 2006, pp. 143&144).
Provenance
Stamford collection; devised to the National Trust by Roger Grey, 10th Earl of Stamford (1896-1976). 'Christie's 20 April 1921 lot 101; bought by Crichton's for Schrager; bought privately by the 10th Earl of Stamford 9 March 1922' (Rothwell & Lomax, 'Country House Silver at Dunham Massey', 2006, pp.136).
Makers and roles
Magdalen Feline (d.1796), silversmith