A charming and unusually denominated Victorian copper measure, English, mid to late 19th century, of stout cylindrical form with an everted rim, moulded skirt foot, and generous scrolled strap handle secured with a copper rivet to the lower body.

The front bears its original applied brass capacity plaque, boldly stamped "2/3 PTS" — a genuinely scarce capacity, falling outside the standard imperial sequence of gill, half pint, pint and quart, and most likely made for a specific trade or victualling purpose where a two-thirds pint issue was the prescribed ration.

The measure is of hand-raised seamed construction with lead-soldered joints, the interior retaining traces of its original tinning with an attractively mottled, undisturbed surface to the base. The exterior has developed a deep, glowing colour with minor dents and irregularities entirely consistent with a long working life — this was a vessel used daily, not a shelf ornament. The handle has an appealingly sinuous profile, the solder repairs to its junctions honest and stable.

An evocative survivor of the Victorian public house or ship's stores, and a rare capacity for the collector of measures.

Provenance: England. 19th-century.

Material: Copper.

Condition: Good, stable condition commensurate with age and use; old solder repairs to handle junctions; wear to interior tinning; surface dents and marks as photographed.

Dimensions: Height: 4 in (10 cm) to the top of the scrolled handle.