Cast iron pots, was Re: [Sca-cooks] Re: Ruperto de Nola, Libre del Coch

[Philippa Alderton]

--- Melanie  Unruh-Bays <maredudd at caerthe.org> wrote:
> Dick Wild's description sure sounds like our modern
> Dutch oven.

Just one possibility- I'm looking still, and he's
keeping me informed.

> Having been toying with the idea of putting together
> a period camp cooking kit, I've been looking at the
> pot-bellied cast iron pots which are said to be
> direct descendants from Dutch supplies that were
> exported to Africa during the very beginning of the
> slave trade. The shape of these pots is the same as
> those used by Caroline Yeldham - the very nice lady
> who gave a talk at the first CooksCon and showed us
> nifty pictures of her kit that she cooks on at the
> English living history site that she participates
> in. So I thought I was pretty safe.

Well, there are three possible shapes, and I think
Lehman's sells all three.

> Then I hear that cast iron pots aren't period.
> Obviously pots built like the one at Mastermyr are
> period, but they're usually somewhat more expensive
> to obtain than the cast iron pots.  I haven't been
> able to confirm or refute this, and was wondering if
> anyone has definitive information either way, or can
> direct me to it.

Well, period for who? Where? That's always the
question. I can likely get you in contact with the guy
making the Mastermyr repro, and he might be willing to
make you one. Or, you can look around, as I did, at
yard sales and the like. I found a 32" diameter copper
pot for $10 that some idiot had drilled holes in for a
planter- bought it for $10 and had the holes brazed
shut- it's now part of our SPCA camp equipment. Ous
cast iron one cost considerably more, but it's about
the same size. There are also pottery pots available.

Master Hroar makes period pottery, and I think
someone, Arte? is in communication with him. He makes
a nice pottery brazier, suitable for a small pot or
grilling a few kabobs. If someone could send me his
email addy, too, I'd appreciate it- another I lost in
the Great Crash.

Phlip

=====
Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....

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