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“Copper pots are the most satisfactory of all to cook in”

Julia Child, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I

Nearly all the copper cookware you will find on this website is at least 100 years old, and often it is much older.  Skilled artisans in Europe and the US made these pieces by hand. Each has had a long and eventful history–one that we may never know, but one that we can sense in the gentle surface wear and the details of its handmade construction. Even when it is in perfect condition, no one would mistake one of these fine antiques for a new or mass-produced product; the true patina is unmistakable. By patina I do not mean dirt and tarnish on the surface, which should be cleaned from cookware, but marks left by spoons that stirred inside the bowls a hundred years ago, minor dings and scratches, and even ancient repairs, all of which attest to a long life of hard work in the kitchen. I love these pieces because they are beautiful and because they are redolent of history. I do not believe they would want to spend the rest of their lives sitting idly on a shelf. They are every bit as practical and ready for use today as they have been for the past 100–200 years. Treat them well and they will be just as useful to, and revered by, generations yet to come. If you are disappointed in what you buy, please return it to me and I will refund your money. I want you to be delighted with your purchase.