Pot, Baking
Object number2013.121.14 a,b
Datec. 1900
OriginMolise, Italy
MediumCopper, tin, brass(?)
Credit LineGift of Lucio D’Andrea
DescriptionCylindrical, copper pot with tin interior. Thick, wire handle attached to two loops on the side of the pot. Bottom of the pot is flat. Pot has round, thick, copper pot lid. Lid has small loop handle in the center with a brass(?) ring attached to it.Dimensionsa) 8.25" H, 13.00" W, 9.125" diam.b) 2.25" H, 9.375" diam.
Together: 9.75" H
Historical NotesPart of a 12-piece 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
On View
Not on view
c. 1900
c. 1900
c. 1900
c. 1900
The Aluminum Cooking Utensil Company, Inc.
