Early 20th-Century Rustic Cramp Seam Traditional Martelage Copper Vessel

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Description

Excellent Pre-Owned Condition.

Note: There are two sets of faux lit stems seen in the photos which are included and … Read more Excellent Pre-Owned Condition.

Note: There are two sets of faux lit stems seen in the photos which are included and plug into a normal AC outlet.

Copper’s earthy vibe plays well with most any design style in today’s modern home. This traditional martelage copper vessel, with a hint of Old-World charm and an elegant modern sensibility, will complement most any style you have going on in your home. It is a handcrafted vessel that originates, we believe, from France and crafted sometime in the early 20th-century, although, there is no provenance hallmark.

I photographed the vessel in the round to show the varying shades and nuances of the martelage, the all-over hammering pattern as seen in the photos. Martelage is functional as well as decorative; it “work hardens” the copper on the outer surface of the vessel or pot, making it more resistant to deformation. The vessel has cramp seams (mistakenly called dovetail seams). Cramp seams are the zig-zag lines running around the base and up the sides of an antique copper vessel or pot. These are the line marks where the coppersmith joined pieces of copper together to form the vessel, something like how a dressmaker sews pieces of cloth together to make a dress. If you see “yellow stuff” around a cramp seam it is typically a brass alloy. After the copper layers are cramped, molten brass is often dripped on the cracks and smoothed over like caulk to help seal up and strengthen the seam, a process called brazing. Like a good tailor, a skilled coppersmith makes nice flat seams that are tight and strong, but these are seams that can survive for centuries. The era of cramp seams ended when welding became economical enough for the chaudronneries to invest in the new equipment. The principles of welding were discovered during the early 19th century but it remained an experimental technique until the turn of the 20th century.

This beauty measures 11” x 7” x 7” H/WD; 6” lip diameter; 4½” opening; weight 2 lbs. 3 oz. Crafted from copper with what we believe to be a zinc or tin base. The vessel is in excellent condition with age-appropriate wear. The interior has age-appropriate patination and use.

The patinated copper finish and martelage work exudes character and vintage charm. For a lover of all things copper or for an Arts & Crafts aficionado, this beauty should be a must buy or the perfect gift for someone who is!

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