Toddy ladle, fiddle pattern

Maker’s mark: “AD” Other marks: castle, thistle, “D”, tree   Other traders often sold the work of silversmiths, sometimes adding their own marks.  This ladle was made by the silversmith Adam Burgess, and it bears his marks.  It was sold by Andrew Dobie, who added the "AD".   This ladle was used to serve the hot spirit based drink, toddy.  Toddy was a mixture of whisky, hot water, honey or sugar, spices such as cinnamon and cloves and lemon juice.  People drank it when they were relaxing in the evening, or after they had been out in bad weather.   “As the ladies left the dining room hot water would be brought in.  It was customary to mix the hot water, whiskey and sugar in a goblet or tumbler, then with the little silver ladles which were always provided, a couple of measures were ladled out into a wine glass, so the rest of the drink remained hot.”   From Avenue of Ancestors, by Alice Maxwell