Large antique ironstone rolling pin - 'The Kings Counsel'
A large antique white ironstone rolling pin, with turned wooden handles and a very rare dark sepia under-glaze transfer on the barrel.
Given the moniker 'The K.C.', this stunning 19thC rolling pin features a scrolling cartouche depicting the profile of a Kings Counsel - a barrister selected to serve as counsel for the British Crown and first used in 1689.
A large and weighty ceramic rolling pin, the substantial barrel is complemented with wide handles, large enough for a full grip. It was likely used in industry or catering rather than the home and despite our best efforts, information on the transfer is yet to be found. It is likely that it was a special commission, possibly for a Victorian barristers firm who were proud of such an accolade in the mid 19thC. Prestigious companies often had their own chefs and catering, so commissioning their own serving & cook ware was not uncommon.
"The first Queen's Counsel Extraordinary was Sir Francis Bacon, who was given a patent giving him precedence at the Bar in 1597, and formally styled King's Counsel in 1603. The right of precedence before the Court granted to Bacon became a hallmark of the early King's Counsel. True to their name, members of the King's/Queen's Counsel initially were representatives of the Crown. The right of precedence and pre-audience bestowed upon them – a form of seniority that allowed them to address the court before others – allowed for the swift resolution of Crown litigation."
"The King's Counsel came to prominence during the early 1830s, prior to which they were relatively few in number. It became the standard means to recognise a barrister as a senior member of the profession, and the numbers multiplied accordingly. It became of greater professional importance to become a KC"
Approx dimensions:
48.5cm wide
8.2cm diameter
Condition:
Glaze crazing, firing/wear marks and light staining, but no damage and very good condition otherwise. One of the handles is slightly more worn than the other, with 3 old woodworm flight holes and also a couple of splits in the end, but these do not really affect it. The other handle also has a small split, but again this does not detract. A very scarce rolling pin, likely to be the only one of it's type.
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