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Post by hawkeyes on May 17, 2023 5:20:25 GMT -7
Simple skillet, pure handforged iron. From my research I have came across similar pieces but nothing identical. That said this isn't a particular piece of kit I advertise in public view for use. I can't verify this is period correct for a cooking item. I first published this period design some years ago when I found evidence of a lead ladle made in this manner, & no doubt you will have noticed the sudden offering of reproductions. Keith. woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2012/01/finally-i-have-first-first-i-have-found.htmlThis iron one is actually rather large, say 6" diameter or possibly more. It's fashioned to be a trekking skillet of sorts that one affixed a sapling handle to. Obviously just like a lead ladle but much larger. Potentially time to retrofit it into something more useful since I couldn't tell you the last time it was used.
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Post by Lisa Bohler on Aug 4, 2023 12:22:26 GMT -7
Hello. I have 2 cast iron cauldrons that belonged to my husbands great grandparents. We are trying to possibly date the items and are thinking of selling them. On the bottom of each of the cauldrons there is a number stamped. One has a 20 and one has a 25. One pot, the 25, does have a ring on the side, close to the bottom that looks like it may have been molded in two pieces. The cast iron is very thick, and the pots have no cracks in them.
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Post by paranger on Aug 4, 2023 12:45:30 GMT -7
Hello. I have 2 cast iron cauldrons that belonged to my husbands great grandparents. We are trying to possibly date the items and are thinking of selling them. On the bottom of each of the cauldrons there is a number stamped. One has a 20 and one has a 25. One pot, the 25, does have a ring on the side, close to the bottom that looks like it may have been molded in two pieces. The cast iron is very thick, and the pots have no cracks in them. Perhaps if you posted some pictures, we might be better able to help. There are instructions for image hosting in each section of the forum at the top.
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Post by Black Hand on Aug 6, 2023 7:09:01 GMT -7
Hello. I have 2 cast iron cauldrons that belonged to my husbands great grandparents. We are trying to possibly date the items and are thinking of selling them. On the bottom of each of the cauldrons there is a number stamped. One has a 20 and one has a 25. One pot, the 25, does have a ring on the side, close to the bottom that looks like it may have been molded in two pieces. The cast iron is very thick, and the pots have no cracks in them. I have a couple friends that deal/dealt with period pieces - they may have some insights. Pictures will be necessary....
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Post by Andrew M on Dec 31, 2023 17:12:38 GMT -7
I see you seem to know a lot about early cast iron, I am looking to date an odd cast iron pot that I acquired in Northern Luxembourg and have had no luck finding any solid info. It has a solid low set handle, 3 sprue marks on the bottom, and a faint lip towards the top of the pot. I got it with a mismatched gate marked lid for 20 euro, and restored it to occasionally cook in. Any info you have would be helpful.
Pictures here
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Post by AM on Dec 31, 2023 17:41:15 GMT -7
I see there are some people in this thread knowledgeable about early iron. I have a piece that looks old due to the low set handle and spruem marks, but is quite different from other old iron that I've seen. I linked the pictures below, and info you might have is appreciated.
link
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Post by brokennock on Dec 31, 2023 21:14:15 GMT -7
Interesting how the handle projects from the very middle of the vessel top to bottom. Is it cast as one piece? In my mind this seems as though it would balance awkwardly if the vessel were full. I hope someone comes through with more information.
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Post by straekat on Feb 8, 2024 9:43:43 GMT -7
I've added a few pieces to my collection since this thread was started. I will start updating the thread with photos and description of some of them.
For starters, I recommend anyone interested in British and American early cast ironware to get your hands on a copy of this and read it. It discusses how to recognize differences in cast ironware types, styles, and how to tentatively date pieces. It's not expensive, and worth having on the shelf for those moments when you are at a flea market, antique store, or a friends garage and a old cast iron pot catches your eye.
Keep your eyes on this space.
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Post by straekat on Feb 8, 2024 13:58:31 GMT -7
John Tyler, who wrote the book shown above, discusses the casting sprue and gate marks as indicators of how old a cast iron pot might be. Contrary to what on-line and other sources have said, he states that after about 1700/1710 when Abraham Darby developed an improved method of casting iron pots, the presence of a gate or casting marks only indicates how a pot was cast, not it's age. Prior to 1700, pots are usually found with a round sprue. After "Darby" pot makers had a choice of which method to use. The single small sprue method meant slower casting compared to the long gate mark which permitted a large amount of metal to be pored and quicker than the single sprue method. He says both methods were used contemporaneously by different iron works.
Tyler uses pot shape, location and shape of the legs/feet, and ear shape to suggest manufacturing dates. He notes some pots may show a mix of characteristics, and the latest feature should be used to estimate when a pot was cast. The ears are often cast separately from the body of the pot, and because of they are smaller and more delicate than the pot body the molds may be more prone to breakage. If a new mold for the ears was made to replace a broken one, it may have been modeled on the most recent stylistic changes.
I will get into the styles/age estimates of pots as this thread continues.
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Post by straekat on Feb 8, 2024 14:15:59 GMT -7
My oldest, dates to about 1750. Came from Chambersburg, PA area.
Note the shape of the ears/lugs. They are round, straight and slight downward slant. Pot shape typical of mid-century form. The feet are short, stubby, and "hoof" shaped, also characteristics of early American made cauldrons.
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Post by straekat on Feb 9, 2024 9:15:41 GMT -7
Now for something a little bit different.....a French "caudron" made circa 1750, about the same time the previous cauldron was. It's different in several ways. These were imported to Nouvelle France for use by the "inhabitants", but not as trade items for the "indigenes."
The lid came with the caudron, and although it fits very well, I'm not certain it is from the same time period. The shape of the ears is different from American and British made cauldrons of the era. This shape does appear on American made cast iron late in the 19th century. The reeded legs and padded feet are typically seen on French and some Dutch pots of the period. The style is a holdover from the 15th-17th century form on bronze cauldrons, posnets and other kitchenware.
This is in excellent condition and could be used, and though I've been seriously tempted, it gets used as a serving bowl for fruit, bread, but not soups or anything requiring being heated or kept warm on a fire. I found something else that is close enough to use and will show it in a bit.
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Post by straekat on Feb 9, 2024 9:19:15 GMT -7
The lid looks very similar to later Dutch oven lids. It could be used to put coals on the top to speed up the cooking or baking process.
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Post by straekat on Feb 9, 2024 9:26:24 GMT -7
The French "caudron" came from an estate in Kansas. When asked about it's history, the seller didn't know very much about the item. Several months later, this one surfaced out of Louisiana. Although it's not as early as the other one, the similarities (shape of the lugs, reeded legs, overall silhouette and banding around the rim) are very close with the exception of no padded feet, it was probably made no later than the middle of the 19th century.
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Post by straekat on Feb 9, 2024 9:33:15 GMT -7
And a photo of the bottom side with the gate mark and leg/feet ends.
This "caudron" is going to get used, at home, at events, and enjoyed. I will season it several times, and am contemplating what to make first in it. The internal shape is perfect for baking bread and I will have to look around for a cast iron lid that fits. This "caudron" is slightly larger than the other one; 9 1/2" diameter versus 8".
Pea soup, a Cajun gumbo.......avec "cornbread"? Hmmmmmmmmm.....
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Post by brokennock on Feb 9, 2024 21:27:59 GMT -7
Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to some pics of the last one in use.
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