Antique heating/warming plate, made of thick pewter, aka Hot-Water plate. Characteristic period form, swiveling handles on the sides. Touch marks on the underside - a Crowned X Quality Mark above a grouping of four shield hall marks - Y B & S. This mark stands for Yates, Birch & Spooner (John Yates, Thomas Rawlins Birch and Lucas Spooner at 38, Coleshill Street, Birmingham, UK). It was made between 1829-1834. A very similar (nearly identical) pair of hot-water plates are recorded in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Please, see Pewter at Colonial Williamsburgh by John D. Davis, p.114, inv.#135. Provenance: Purchased from Franz Middelkoop, New York, N.Y. 1932, -41,1-2. Measurements: Approx. 12" handle to handle, 9.25" diameter, 1.25" high.

This plate came from a large collection of objects we came upon that were used in the historic early American Barnard's Inn Tavern and Farmhouse (1776) on Route 1 in Kennebunk, York County, Maine. The tavern was built in 1776 by one of Maine’s first mail carriers, Mr. Joseph Barnard. It operated as a hostel inn until his death in 1817, later run by his wife until 1823. The historic Tavern has had guests as distinguished as Marquis de Lafayette and William Jennings Bryan. It is one of the oldest buildings in the town and is still standing today - with a rich historical heritage. After 1823, it was purchased by the Curtis family and operated as a farmhouse during the Civil War. It has been saved from a fire by a Dr. Johnson and used as a doctor's office for the latter part of the 20th century. Over time, the landmark building has accumulated many antiques, and most of these items are among those that were used during it's Tavern period (1776-1823). The tavern farmhouse and all contents were auctioned off in 2015. A wealthy Florida family, whose son lives in Maine, purchased these lots, and they later arrived in our possession. | See our special $5 starting bid lots at the end of this auction! No Reserve, No Buyer's Premium! Cost-effective, professional in-house packaging and combined shipping available!