It's been said that all roads lead to Rome
and in the case of my longstanding search for an old copper kettle,
this has proven true ...
I have found her.
Not too big,
not too small,
but just right.
Love at first sight, it was, because of this ...
how many hands have wrapped around that handle?
Held and poured?
A bit of historical sleuthing dredged up some interesting facts:
The current Revere Copper Products was founded in 1801 by Paul Revere.
Rome Manufacturing was established in 1892, a divisionof Rome Brass Copper with production facilities in Rome, NY.
In 1928, a merge of five northeastern copper companies
produced the Revere Copper and Brass Corporation,
the largest copper manufacturer in the U.S.
Turns out this old gal is vintage Revere Ware.
She's a sweet wreck
with her pock marks and dents and peeling paint.
The thrift shop ladies were clearly perplexed
when I couldn't hand over my ten dollars fast enough.
Her days of useful service are far from over.
She may be past her prime for proper domestic service
but she can't be more perfect for my dye kitchen.
I hope she didn't think she was retired ...
: : :
In a stroke of serendipity, Hipstamatic released a new vintage-feel
lens/film combo pak
the same day I found my kettle ...
they call it Monti
so I took it for a test run.
All images are straight out of camera [iPhone]
no post-processing except to add copyright.
How fabulous. Things with stories always have a better influence on the dye bath. And I had no idea that Paul Revere could make things from metal (though I had heard he could ride)
ReplyDeleteSeems Mr. Revere was quite the accomplished silversmith. His interest in "copper rolling" began after the American Revolution, when the American navy wanted to begin using the process for sheathing the nation's ships. I do love a good story!
DeleteLove at first sight, YES!
ReplyDeleteYou girls are going to have so much fun together.
Best wishes
Sus (in Denver for the month) (with flossy!)
Indeed we will, taking all of our valuable lessons to task ;>]
DeleteBest wishes back to you & Flossy.
Does this mean you get to have spring *twice*??
great find! love the shape of the handle.
ReplyDeletesooo does water boiled in a copper pot take some of the properties of the copper and that's why you'd use it in your dye kitchen?
enquiring minds and all that. ;)
Yes, Jen ~ pot acts as a natural mordant, same as an iron or aluminum pot might do. Can also impart
Deletesome interesting "patina" effects with direct contact ... am
sending you an email with a little book nudge/suggestion which would help answer
many of your dye questions .... ;>]
Yay You!! I never saw a piece of copper I didn't love. This one is a lucky find for you.
ReplyDeleteditto on the copper, Carol, most especially the old wrecks tee hee.
Deleteooo how lovely. I'm keen to see what you do with her...
ReplyDeleteNo doubt will prolly blab about it here ;>]
DeleteWhat a fabulous vintage copper kettle - I love the first two images best, the colours and textures are lovely!
ReplyDeleteMany thanx, Evelyn. Taking her for a test drive soon.
DeleteWhat a wonderful find! Worthy of taking home. As a child we used Revere Ware all the time - it was 'the' metal ware. I never knew its history and I always thought that Revere was just a name that the company had come up with -- not knowing it was 'the' Paul Revere.
ReplyDeleteSame at my house, Penny. All my mom's pots were RW.
DeleteAnd who knew Paul was a silversmith, not to mention the whole
copper industry connection thing?! [love history]
What a beauty! Old copper has a certain magic about it, I think...
ReplyDeletegood score!
ReplyDelete