A rare example of an 18th century pewter baluster measure extended c1825-35 to Imperial Standard. No maker's mark, but is verified with a crowned GR over Y, and later City of York (WIV over a lion) verification marks. The introduction of Imperial Standard measure in 1826 was an evolutionary rather than revolutionary process, so for example it took about a decade to firm up the enforcement arrangements including the appointment and training of Weights and Measures Inspectors. The demand for measures conforming to the new standard grew exponentially, and it took pewterers some time to cope. Initially, as new bronze moulds had to be commissioned and produced, pewterers and coppersmiths showed their ingenuity in continuing to provide appropriate measuring vessels to traders and licensees. Measure makers had to ‘make do and mend’ before they got new moulds, so in some areas as a stop-gap, pre-Imperial wine measures were extended either at the rim or body seam to bring them up to Imperial capacity. These extended measures are now rarely encountered, and usually are verified with early marks from c1826-35. The rather drastic nature of their creation by removing the lids and thumbpieces of old wine standard measures means such measures tend to be imperfect. Capacity is an Imperial quart = 40 fl oz. 7⅞" tall, with 3⅝” and 3¾" mouth and base diameters. 1088g weight. This is the left hand measure in the photo of two extended baluster measures, of which the other one is also for sale. REF: C3888
