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Ash Scuttle & Scoop

Original price $150.00 - Original price $150.00
Original price
$150.00
$150.00 - $150.00
Current price $150.00
SKU 1015

12" x 11" x 16"

This lovely bit of 19th-century craftsmanship is a cady-style scuttle made of yellow-ware. The scuttle has been designed in a wide-mouthed shape and comes with a convenient handle to transport ashes. It has been designed in the style of repoussé, which can be noted in the patterning of the hammered imprints in the yellow copper. Repoussé, meaning "to push back", is an ancient technique that has been extensively used throughout the history of metalworking in which a malleable metal is hammered from the back side so that it can be pushed up, and mostly made into patterns. The use of the scuttle and scoop bloomed in the Victorian era, when they were mostly used to enable the transport of coal ashes. The word scuttle originates from the Latin word scutula, meaning a shallow pan. In addition to the handle at the top, the scuttle has a grip on the backside to allow for easy pouring. The scuttle also comes with a metal scoop (not original to the set) for gathering ashes. Both the scuttle and scoop have been kept in working condition and would make a lovely addition to a fireplace in any home. 

At this time in England, Sir Humphry Davy (1778–1829) invented the Davy Lamp in 1815, for use in coal mines. Prior to this period, miners were forced to use open flames in their work, which had the potential to ignite the flammable gases within the mines, subsequently causing lethal explosions. Davy’s invention was a wick lamp that contained its flame within a mesh screen, greatly reducing the risk of dangerous fire and gas interactions. Despite the safety benefits, many miners originally objected to the use of “safety lamps” as they could not be worn on the head, were awkward to move, and emitted a poor stream of light; all issues resolved in later lighting iterations.