17th Century Cooking Pot/Cauldron or a Well Bucket!!!

[BollyRob]

Hi there everyone

Firstly, congratulations for this great resource site, the subjects covered are amazing and there are obviously some verk knowledgeable peeps on here helping out!

I bought this cauldron? at a local auction a few weeks ago and I would love to find out a bit more about it. The only reference I have found is a similar item that was listed on ebay last year, it was titled 17th century cauldron but I am not sure.

Anyone out there have any further ideas as to its age, usage, value etc?

Thanks a lot, hopefully I will be in a position to advise myself on future topics.

[cogar]

It looks more lik a "stew" pot that was made to hang on a fireplace "trammel" ... than it does a cauldron.

What is its dimensions?

[mart]

Is the bottom flattened or round ??  Either that or well bucket but looks small for well bucket !!

[bigwull]

I,d say this was a small well bucket,the rope is tied to the ring on the hooped handle,..so that when the bucket is dropped,it automatically flops over,..i,ve seen them being made of leather...

[mart]

Would work for either !! Many items are multi-use and even more so back then !!

[BollyRob]

I,d say this was a small well bucket,the rope is tied to the ring on the hooped handle,..so that when the bucket is dropped,it automatically flops over,..i,ve seen them being made of leather...

The shape certainly matches your picture, the plot thickens!

[bigwull]

a simple test..tie a rope to the loop, drop it from a great height..when it lands arse first, if it rolls over...its a water bucket...

[BollyRob]

a simple test..tie a rope to the loop, drop it from a great height..when it lands arse first, if it rolls over...its a water bucket...

...or a crumpled, worthless pile of metal!

[sapphire]

Found a few examples of round bottomed cooking pots/cauldrons. Some of them are riveted like yours. No info on them though.

http://www.keeleyhire.co.uk/props/cauldrons_and_cooking_pots

[cogar]

Round bottomed cooking pots/cauldrons were the "norm" in the early days, .... for 3 reasons.

1. it was much simpler and easier to make a "rounded" bottom pot (with or without legs) than it was to make a "flat" bottomed pot.

2. "round" bottom pots heat more evenly over an "open" flame.

3. and most important of all, ..... ya didn't hafta tilt the pot .... to "dip" the last drink of water or bite of food out of it. And that's also why they made "rounded" dippers.

[BollyRob]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

[bigwull]

a simple test..tie a rope to the loop, drop it from a great height..when it lands arse first, if it rolls over...its a water bucket...

...or a crumpled, worthless pile of metal!

maybe i should have said...make sure there is some water below....e.g, duck pond, or water butt

[ghopper1924]

Water butt???

[bigwull]

Water butt???

yes a water butt....you,know one of them things that collects rainwater from the rhone pipe,.or gutter as some people call them...

[greenacres]

Sounds like an enema. That's we call a water butt, lol.