Venetian Copper

[Ellenshar]

Okay, just found this in mom's collection.  The back is stamped "Canada -Venetian Copper - 1861".  I assume it isn't valuable,  being made of copper, but I am just interested in knowing what exactly "Venetian Copper" is.  Any ideas?

[luxetveritas]

What a nice piece of copper you have! I'd say Venetian copper is simply copper worked in Venice, like Venetian glass. The only other piece I've seen like this was a platter, sold for $40. So not valuable, but quite a lovely family heirloom!

[ironlord1963]

I did a bit of snooping and found several venetian Copper items for sale on line, but found nothing about the hallmark or the company.  They all seem to say Vintage on the item title.  Sorry came up a bit short, Guess I need to get a book on copper now  .  It is a nice looking item, and I'm sure with a few more snooper and a bit more seeking we can find something, got some really good researcher here on this forum.

[sapphire]

Just pulling tidbits here, don't know if any of them produced your plate. Unfortunately all of these makers appear to have a specific mark or marks. Possibly they produced for other companies?  Will keep searching. 

http://www.oldcopper.org/anaconda.htm

 "Anaconda Brass (Canada) started as J.F. Brown’s Copper & Brass Rolling Mills, in 1919, located on Birmingham Street, New Toronto, Ontario. Anaconda acquired the mills soon after in 1922. In its last few years of operations, it was Arrowhead Metals. The plant closed in 1989."

http://www.oldcopper.org/benedict.htm

"Benedict Proctor Mfg. Co.  Flemish Copper B.P. Co./Flemish Copper. Flemish Copper is probably a style name for the non-silver plated wares of Benedict Proctor Mfg. Co. of Trenton, Ontario, Canada.  They began in Toronto in 1913 and relocated to Trenton in 1917.   The factory closed in 1982 and was demolished to make way for a park on the Trent River."

http://www.oldcopper.org/UnknownMksL-M.htm

"Mitchell, Canada, maker's mark under a fire lighter made from an old 4" shell case.  More information will be welcome."

http://www.oldcopper.org/Marks%20u-v.htm

 "Vetcraft Shops, Toronto, one of several shops set up to employ ex-servicemen after the 1914-18 war.  It was active from about 1919 until 1925, initially in College Street, later in an industrial building in Dundas West.  Other workshops made items such as furniture and toys."

"Viking Copper, M.S. Co. Canada, more information welcome."

http://www.oldcopper.org/Marks%20L.htm

" ‘L’  unknown mark on a handsome hand made fluted copper trophy fruit dish engraved    'RYC' 1935 and bought in Canada."

  "Lunenburg Foundry, Lunenberg Foundry & Engineering Limited (LIFE), established in 1891 in Nova Scotia, Canada to supply marine and domestic brassfoundrywork. This mark found under a brass Atlantic lobster that still features in their catalogue of souvenirs."

http://www.oldcopper.org/Marks%20B.htm
   
"Paul Beau, Mountain Street, Montreal, Canada (1871-1949).  A metalsmith in Arts and Crafts style, frequently mixing metals in a piece to obtain colour contrasts.  Later pieces may not have '& Co."

This coco pot and cream/sugar set are listed on eBay and appear to have the same mark as yours. Both are listed out of Ontario so most likely 'locally' made.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ED34-VINTAGE-VENETIAN-COPPER-COCO-POT_W0QQitemZ200438172926QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item2eab0bccfe#ht_4506wt_941

http://cgi.ebay.ca/VINTAGE-VENETIAN-COPPER-MILK-SUGAR_W0QQitemZ390173106754QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item5ad8212242#ht_4569wt_1167

[sapphire]

Three more items, all the same mark.......from a collection - Ontario seller. But still not further info on the maker or date.


http://cgi.ebay.ca/VENETIAN-COPPER-SALVER-TRAY-MADE-IN-CANADA-EXCELLENT_W0QQitemZ200448809598QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item2eabae1a7e#ht_1114wt_941

http://cgi.ebay.ca/HANDLED-CONE-BASKET-VASE-VENETIAN-COPPER-MADE-CANADA_W0QQitemZ200448810086QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item2eabae1c66#ht_1360wt_941

http://cgi.ebay.ca/2-5-ARM-VENETIAN-COPPER-CANDELABRA-CANDLE-HOLDERS_W0QQitemZ190379651156QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item2c5382f054#ht_1114wt_941

[Ellenshar]

Wow Sapphire -You are good.  Thanks for all the research.  I checked out your sites - the one for the Salver Tray has exactly the same mark.  However, I noticed they have "2045" on the back of theirs -mine has "1861".  I thought the 1861 meant the year it was made, but it must be a registration number or something.  Still don't know what "venetian copper" is though.

[sapphire]

Sorry Ellenshar, totally lost track of your inquiry about a definition of Venetian Copper.  I honestly don't know, but did come across a site that explains a process done on brass to give it a Venetian or Aged finish.  Possibly the process (or effect) is similar?

"Venetian and Aged Bronze Finish Process: US11P Venetian and Aged Bronze finished products start out with a Solid Brass base. Solid Brass is Copper plated and then a hand rubbed dark bronze finish is brush applied on top of the copper, revealing varying amounts of the copper highlight. Each piece is unique. Unlike the Oil Rubbed Bronze finish, a lacquer coating is then applied to preserve the appearance and to prevent it from the aging characteristic of Oil Rubbed Bronze. If you want the new appearance of Oil Rubbed Bronze, this is the finish for you."

[luxetveritas]

As I said, I'm fairly certain Venetian copper is simply copper worked in Venice. If you take Venetian glass, for example, it's simply Italian glass. German pewter = pewter worked in Germany. Russian silver = silver worked in Russia. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I'd assume.

[waywardangler]

German silver is an alloy of nickel, zinc, and copper also known as nickle silver.  The name may have had it's origin in the German language but all German silver is not made in Germany.  It is a name for this alloy that has stuck through the years wherever it is made.  I am just throwing this out there for fun.  Venetian copper may be a similar term that originated in the past and has become common for a certain type, color, or style of finishing copper.

[ironlord1963]

    I'm starting to think the same as wayward, when looking around did find lots of stuff on the subject of Venetian Copper, and not so much on the company.  Espeically Venetian Copper mask, that is between all the Venetian Blinds that come up in the search 

[luxetveritas]

That's entirely true. That being said, I still think this is just copper worked in Italy

[fancypants]

I'm going to make a semi-educated guess/assumed idea -

It seems clear that the item was made in Canada , where there's lotsa copper .

'Venitian' process is commonly used for producing some rather nice glass beads ; it involves fusing gold to glass (generally gold gilt or 'foil') .

"Venitian red" is a color of a copper finish , still used today .

I am postulating that those clever Canuks decided to name a product line & process style "Venitian Copper" .

Most , if not all of the 'V-C' I've seen (mostly in Wisconsin) has had more than solder & copper elements on it .
 
I'm gonna guess that they also used various metal foils &/or tin dips &/or plating to vary the outer appearance of their items , while their inner-selves remained copper .

... Re-name the item by it's process & you get 'Venitian Copper" .

No solid info on the company yet from me .

[luxetveritas]

Oh! Venetian red! I think you're quite right, fancypants!

[sapphire]

I am postulating that those clever Canuks decided to name a product line & process style "Venitian Copper"

Awww, how sweet.......thank you!!