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Oven, Dutch

Object number2013.121.2 a,b

Datec. 1900

OriginMolise, Italy

MediumCopper, tin

Credit LineGift of Lucio D'Andrea

DescriptionRound two-handled copper pot with lid.Dimensionsa) 5.50" diam., 2.50" H
b) 4.312" diam., 1.00" H

Historical NotesPart of a copper cookware set that belonged to donor Lucio D’Andrea’s mother, Marianina DeSantoli D’Andrea of Roccamandolfi, Italy. The hand-crafted cookware features copper outer design and inner tin lining, and was made-to-order by a local craftsman in Molise around the turn of the 20th century. Mass produced cookware was not customary during this period and peddlers would travel from village to village, taking orders based on a family’s individual needs. This cookware was also used before the advent of modern kitchen appliances in the villages of Southern Italy and foods would have been cooked over coals or fire. Copper has high conductivity and reacts almost instantaneously to temperature changes, making the element ideal for preparing foods faster with less energy. When the D’Andrea family emigrated from Italy in 1948, Marianina packed what she could from her kitchen into a steamship trunk. Larger items from the home, like furniture, were left behind. Once in Pittsburgh, she discovered that there wasn’t a need for her cookware as American kitchens did not accommodate for the use of coal and fire indoors during the mid-20th century. The cookware served as a relic for the D’Andrea family, reminding them of the life they left behind in Italy.

Previous owner Marianina DeSantoli D'Andrea

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