Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
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- Frances Perry
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Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
I'm looking for suppliers of cauldrons / cooking pots suitable for 15th century re-enactment.
and
if anyone has one they wish to sell - but no old knock-off jam pans and witches pentagram cauldrons please!!!
Thanks for your help
and
if anyone has one they wish to sell - but no old knock-off jam pans and witches pentagram cauldrons please!!!
Thanks for your help
Last edited by Alice the Huswyf on Wed May 11, 2011 1:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: title amended on moving from buy and sell to retain useful information
Reason: title amended on moving from buy and sell to retain useful information
http://www.medievalartandwoodcraft.com
“In these modern times, many men are wounded for not having weapons or knowledge of their use.” Achille Marozzo, 1536
“In these modern times, many men are wounded for not having weapons or knowledge of their use.” Achille Marozzo, 1536
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Re: WLTB: Cooking pan / Cauldron
http://www.historiccastings.co.uk/, could try here have some very nice looking bits of kit
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- Absolute Wizard
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Re: WLTB: Cooking pan / Cauldron
Wayne at Past Links has made me a good range of skillets and pans
Past Lincs Historical Furniture: 75 Lincoln Road, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9AR Tel: 01526 833 737. E-mail: pastlincs@aol.com
Past Lincs Historical Furniture: 75 Lincoln Road, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9AR Tel: 01526 833 737. E-mail: pastlincs@aol.com
http://www.griffinhistorical.com. A delicious decadent historical trifle. Thick performance jelly topped with lashings of imaginative creamy custard. You may also get a soggy event management sponge finger but it won't cost you hundreds and thousands.
- Graham Ashford
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Re: Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
Probably a little late to the game on this one, but thanks for the reference above.
Here's a couple of images of a recent cauldron in case it helps, this one was raised from a 14g (1.9mm) mild steel and is about 9 inches across (IIRC):


In case you can't see the images here's the gallery: http://www.greenleaf-workshop.co.uk/gallery/index.php
Here's a couple of images of a recent cauldron in case it helps, this one was raised from a 14g (1.9mm) mild steel and is about 9 inches across (IIRC):


In case you can't see the images here's the gallery: http://www.greenleaf-workshop.co.uk/gallery/index.php
Re: Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
Frances - are you aware of the discussion on her from some time back about Cast Iron not being right for 15th C? Rivetted bronze or earthenware seemed to be the consensus.
Re: Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
Cast bronze is good too.Langley wrote:Frances - are you aware of the discussion on her from some time back about Cast Iron not being right for 15th C? Rivetted bronze or earthenware seemed to be the consensus.
Futuaris nisi irrisus ridebis.
Re: Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
As a time-served metalsmith of 46 years standing, and an med reenactor, I have an interest in the production of steel which is made by re-melting pig iron. As part of the process, a certain amount of cast iron - in an undesirable form, but sometimes including a usable amount of "malleable" cast iron, is produced if temperatures, and the re-addition of carbon are not carefully controlled, along with Phosphorus and Sulphur which may be introduced as contaminants. In the 15C cast iron was itself seen as a contaminant and it's inherent strengths were not recognised. For this reason, cast iron was very rarely used. Instead, cast bronze was substituted when items such as cauldrons or cooking pans were required. Cast iron did not become popular until around the late 17C. I would be interested to hear the opinions of other craftsmen on this rather thorny subject. PS as a warning, please, if you have a bronze pot or cauldron, do not eat food from it, as there is a danger of verdigris poisoning from the copper content which can leach during heating: also there may be lead content, also very dangerous.
Re: Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
Bronze is potentially dangerous but keeping it clean and bright inside, scouring it well and finishing with an acid (vinager or lemon juice) a good rinse and thorough drying, helps minimise any risks as does never letting food cool in it, once cooked transfer to 'good pot'.
As someone who for the last 10yrs has been cooking and eating from bronze regularily (minimum of one weekend a month and frequently a week at a time) it's never done me any AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH THE SPIDERS! STOP THE SPIDERS! THEY'RE EATING MY BRAIN! harm.
As someone who for the last 10yrs has been cooking and eating from bronze regularily (minimum of one weekend a month and frequently a week at a time) it's never done me any AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH THE SPIDERS! STOP THE SPIDERS! THEY'RE EATING MY BRAIN! harm.
Futuaris nisi irrisus ridebis.
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- Absolute Wizard
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Re: Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
depends how old of course. I have a couple of originals I use for later eras and they are spot on. Post civil war, apart from slight changes in shape and how the handle attaches they match provenanced ones and pictorial sources.old knock-off jam pans
Alternatively you can still get original bronze skillets for a good price.
But all need the Grymm method of cleaning or you get the same WEEEEEE DADDY I"M RIDING A LOBSTER!!!!!!!! effect.
http://www.griffinhistorical.com. A delicious decadent historical trifle. Thick performance jelly topped with lashings of imaginative creamy custard. You may also get a soggy event management sponge finger but it won't cost you hundreds and thousands.
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- Absolute Wizard
- Posts: 4242
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:28 pm
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Re: Sourcing Cooking pans / Cauldrons
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/English-Bronz ... 1c3448409c
for example. bargain! Although not much good pre 1720's, he's a very identifiable maker.
for example. bargain! Although not much good pre 1720's, he's a very identifiable maker.
http://www.griffinhistorical.com. A delicious decadent historical trifle. Thick performance jelly topped with lashings of imaginative creamy custard. You may also get a soggy event management sponge finger but it won't cost you hundreds and thousands.