Richard Lee, Sr. & Jr. are known for some of their unique forms. Very unusual porringer handles, like cast using soapstone molds and forms like this ladle made in unique ways.
The Sr. Lee was previously located in Massachusetts and New Hampshire before he settled in Vermont. They were country pewterers producing plates, basins, ladles and wide variety of porringers.
This ladle incorporates a "Windsor Chair" type turned handle with a cast-in-place shaft that attached to the bowl. Note the whimsical turnings of both the pewter and wood.
A very unique feature is the method by which the Lees attached the handle to the bowl. A pad on linen or other cloth was firmly held against the inside of the bowl. The handle was set onto the bowl and the used a hot solder iron to fuse metal all around the shaft securing it to the bowl. The metal was smoothed down and scraped to produce a flared joint between the two parts. You can also see a "linen mark" on the inside of the bowl where the metal melted through in the soldering process.
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