Copperware is the collective term for domestic and decorative objects made from copper, including saucepans, stockpots, jelly moulds, kettles, jugs, warming pans, coal scuttles, measures and ornamental vessels. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and is easily hammered and shaped, which made it the metal of choice for the kitchens of large houses for centuries.
Antique kitchen copper was usually lined with tin to prevent the metal reacting with food, and handles were riveted on in iron or brass. Many pieces from country houses are stamped with the house name, crest or inventory numbers, which add interest and help with dating. Hand-made examples show dovetailed or brazed seams and hammer marks, while later machine-spun wares are smoother and more uniform. In the late nineteenth century the Arts and Crafts movement brought new life to decorative copper, with designs by W.A.S. Benson and work from the Newlyn and Keswick schools. Collectors look for weight, quality of construction and original fittings. A warm, gently aged colour is often preferred to a high polish, and old pans intended for cooking should be professionally re-tinned before use.
