Vessels at West Thirston. By G. H. Thompson. 531 



The larger one (Fig. 2) is six and a half inches outside, and 

 six inches inside, with a handle eight inches in length. It has 

 also probably been pierced, as there are four small round holes 

 in the sides, similar to those in the smaller vessel, but at a 

 distance of an inch and a half from their rim. The bottom of 

 this is also lost ; but the depth has probably been the 

 same. 



Both are formed of a yellowish kind of metal, resembling 

 brass, but very hard. The handles, which are between a 

 sixteenth and an eight of an inch in thickness, only bend 

 slightly with considerable pressure, and spring back again. 

 There is no sign of brazing or any other kind of junction between 

 the handle and the body, which has been formed by beating it 

 out of the flat plate, of which the handle was the extension. The 

 plate must have been beaten thinner, commencing at the outside, 

 so as to leave as much metal as possible within the circle with 

 which to form the body. The rim is thicker than the handle, 

 and a narrow strip is so left all round to give strength. As the 

 depth increases the metal gets thinner. The plate in each case 

 will have been formed by casting in a mould, so as to get the 

 larger amount of metal for making the body, which would be 

 effected by alternately beating, and then softening it by heating 

 where it appeared likely to crack, until the requisite depth was 

 obtained. AVhile the smaller one tapers slightly towards the 

 bottom, the larger one slightly expands. In both, the material 

 has been beaten out to a paper-like thinness, but remarkably 

 smooth and even on the surface. 



The smaller one, if not both, has evidently been a cooking 

 utensil, such as are now called colanders. 



Along with them a small bowl was found, formed of a darker 

 coloured metal, of a reddish copper colour. It is five inches wide, 

 and one and three quarter inches deep, with a slight indentation 

 at the edge, for pouring out the liquid. There has been no 

 handle to it. It too has been formed by percussion, but is not 

 so carefully finished as the other articles. 



