Finding a Medieval pot or cauldron

Because of my love for all things Medieval, I recently starting looking into cook wear.  I have been playing around with clay and made a couple of cooking items, bowls, period pie dish and will be working on a pipkin soon but I wanted something more to use for cooking.  I wondered what examples there might be out there for metal cook wear.  Particularly, pots and cauldrons and  I was able to find several examples in manuscripts and woodcuts.  Below are just a few examples of what I found.

Example of a Medieval field kitchen from Il Cuoco Segreto Di Papa Pio V (The Private Chef of Pope Pius V), by Bartolomeo Scappi, Venice, 1570. 

              Confort d'ami (BNF Fr. 1584, fol. 135v), c. 1372-1377.   Off the site http://larsdatter

Küche mit Kachelofen, aus: Kuchenmaistrey, erstmals erschieben 1485 bei Peter Wagner. Abbildung aus der Ausgabe von Johannes Fischauer, Augsburg 1505

After some research, I decided I really wanted a metal cook pot/cauldron.  As I am trying my best to move closer and closer to being more "period" with clothes, furniture, tents etc... I knew that this was just one of many items that would need to be researched and  purchased.  But promised myself before I purchased I would compare each item to pictures and extents.  I happened to find these......

     









                                                                          





 The cauldron in the center looks very similar to the cauldrons directly below it. Although the top is  straighter rather then fluted out like the others.  Below:   I came across the following extents; one from a shipwreck site from Nauvo and the other is from the Museum of London. 

 

Museum of London Acc. No. 7859

From raised from the medieval wreck site in      
Nauvo.  National Board of Antiquities 

www.naba.fi/en/index 
 















In the end, I did search many auction sites, auction houses, tag sales and recreated history cook wear sites, until I finally purchased the two cauldrons below. They were purchased from an auction site for fair prices.  As for size, one holds over a gallon and the other a liter.  And although these are cast iron and many cauldrons are copper alloy or bronze; they are great additions to help recreate a more period cooking experience in the kitchen.  Now, on to find a long handle Medieval frying pan!

    

Medieval open fire cooking

     This past fall we did a couple of outdoor demonstrations at various locations.  I decided that I was going to do some open fire cooking.  From start to finish I was going to make our meal on the open fire.  This gave me a chance to try out one of my new cooking pot.  

     With the lovely view of the lake, my cousin, (in viking) and I started to cut up the vegetables as the chicken breasts were cooking in the pot over the fire.  Once the chicken was cooked we removed it and to the pot we added a little unsalted butter from what the girls had been churning.  Chopped leeks, turnips, parsnips, carrots and garlic.  We then added a little water, salt, nutmeg, mace and ginger.  Once that everything was softened I added a little flour.  Then chicken stock was added.   As it started to thicken up the chicken was added and a little cream from the butter churn itself.  Everyone agreed the stew was very tasty.  Next time, I think I will try thickening the dish with bread crumbs.

New medieval clay bread oven

Earlier this year, I made medieval clay bread oven and unfortunately after much use it met it's demise.  It was fired up, very hot and ready to be used and then a horrible storm started with hail and heavy rain and the back of the oven blew out.  But in October I built a new oven.  Smaller than the last oven and much easier to travel with.   The construction process was the same, clay mixed with a little sand, straw and water.  The inner frame is a woven basket covered with fabric then the clay mixture.  

Once the clay dries to a leather stage, usually I wait over night for this to happen; I then build a small fire and slowly build it up to where it then burns out the fabric and basket, in this case two baskets and dries the clay on the inside.  It then is hard enough to bake in.  Each time the oven is fired, it will harden more.  Like when you are firing in a kiln the heat dries the clay.  

 The oven itself was built on a wood litter and will be added on a cart, hopefully some time this spring.  The weight is over 100 pounds and takes two people to lift.  The inside is large enough for a couple rounds of bread or two medium pies. 



 

New year and new post

Well it is a new year and my New Year's resolution is to post every other week things that I am working on.  I have been very lacked in that respect.  So to catch up I will post some things that I have been doing.  I have attending demos and built a new bread oven as well.  Made more hats and currently working on some hood and clothing.  

Happy New Year Everyone!  

Going Viking....

Vikings have invaded my home again.  In the previous couple of weeks I have been working on a three panel apron dress.  I have never made a three panel before but know the do exist.  So, not that this was a challenge, because I have made several four panel dresses but it was something new and different which is always a good thing.  I really like the color of the wool and it was soft to the hand and light enough to layer. 

The stitching came out nice and neat.  And the gores and seams I used a simple running stitch and a herringbone stitch along the top.  

 The only problem....it's a little too big!  And I don't mean the stitches.  The dress needs to be taken in two or three inches so I will be taking out the top stitching and the seam stitching and taking it in the back and from seams, then re-stitching.  Good thing I am somewhat fast with hand stitches (simple stitches) and I love to hand sew. 

From Clay to Bread class

Many people have asked for a copy the class I recently taught on the Medieval Bread Oven so I have included it here on my blog.  The class can be found on the right hand side as a link to on the blog itself.  Enjoy!

 

From clay to bread 

Recreating a period clay oven and using it

 By Duchess Ilish O’Donovan