As I’ve shared the renovation of our kitchen, one of the things I’ve been asked about most is my copper collection.  More specifically, I’m asked where I find it and what I look for when shopping for copper.  So, I thought I would write a blog post to answer all of the questions and share some of my tips.  I started collecting copper about 20 years ago when we lived in our first house.  It was an 1,100-square-foot townhouse in a bad neighborhood in Loudoun County, VA, which, if you’re familiar with the Northern Virginia area, you may know it is a tough place for a first-time homeowner to get into the market.  While we lived there, it was the fastest-growing county in the US and the wealthiest per capita.

So, anyway, this little townhouse had a small kitchen with a box-bay window that looked out over the parking lot and I wanted to do something fun with it.  I had recently purchased a set of stainless steel pots and pans (a 90% off deal at Tuesday Morning) and, lacking the cabinet space to store them, I decided to buy a simple pot rail from Ikea to hang over the box-bay window to both store and display my new pots and pans.  A few stainless steel pots and pans looked a little lonely so I looked around the house to see if there was anything else I could add.  I hung a wooden cutting board I found in my Opa’s attic and a copper au gratin dish we got for a wedding gift and that sent me on a hunt for more pieces for my pot rail.

When I was at secondhand stores, I started looking for and collecting copper bowls, pots, colanders, and molds.  I finally got a real pot rack when we moved to Pennsylvania and my mom bought the one I currently have as a housewarming gift.  And I’ve continued to add pieces here and there over the years.

When I went to Europe for the first time as an adult, a copper pot from Julia Child’s favorite cooking supply store in Paris and an antique copper mold were two things on my shopping list.  And I came home with both!

collecting copper | where to find it

I find them a little bit of everywhere!  I have a small berry colander (similar to ) that was my Oma’s.  I found a fantastic antique German bunt pan at a yard sale for $25.  I have found pieces at thrift stores, antique markets, and estate sales.  I even had a beautiful set of antique French copper pots gifted to me by a friend who was downsizing.  And, I have added some quality new pieces as well, like a n and a set of mini cocottes (similar to ) from Home Goods.  You just have to keep your eyes open and hone in on what you want.

collecting copper | what to look for & what to avoid

Take this with a grain of salt, because what I like and look for might be different than what you like and are looking for! But, you should know that not all copper is the same and some “copper” isn’t even copper.  What you’re most likely to come across at thrift stores and yard sales is copper-colored aluminum.  Those are mid-20th-century jello molds that were mass-produced and cheap, so they are found in abundance when second-hand shopping.  Many of the mold shapes mimic antique copper molds, so they can still be quite pretty and, I must say, jello served in a mold is pretty fun, so I wouldn’t discount these altogether, but they aren’t really what I’m looking for.  Some of them have a nice copper color, but many of them are very pink, reddish, or a garish orange.

When collecting quality and genuine copper pieces is the goal, you want to look for a few things…

• A maker’s mark will often tell you the manufacturer, the country or origin, and/or the materials making identification easy.
• The copper will look like it was shaped by hand (you’ll see hammer marks.)  Not all quality copper has these hammer marks, but it is an indication of a handmade piece.
• The copper will be lined with tin (unless it’s a mixing bowl for egg whites or isn’t used for cooking.)
• The piece will feel heavy for it’s size compared to copper-colored aluminum
• Quality copper has a beautiful luster to it

A comparison of the top mold vs. the bottom mold in the photo below will provide a nice comparison.  Both are real copper and tin-lined, but the bottom one was handmade and the copper has that beautiful copper luster that I love.

collecting copper | do you use your copper pieces for cooking?

Yes and no.  Copper is a desirable metal for cooking because it’s a great conductor and it heats evenly.  The downside is that copper can leach into food if unlined or if the lining has worn away.  In order for copper to be safe for cooking, it needs to be fully lined in a non-reactive, food-safe material like stainless steel or tin.  When I bought my French copper pot, I had the choice between stainless steel and tin.  Tin is the traditional material, it is heavier than stainless steel, and is generally the preference among professional cooks, but the tin will wear away over time and will eventually need to be retinned.  Stainless steel is the modern alternative that is lighter and it will not need to be repaired or replaced over time.  Being the old soul that I am, I went with tin.

I have some old pots, pans, and molds that have not been retinned, so they are just decorative.  I did have a set of antique French pots retinned so that I would be able to use them and they turned out beautifully!  You can read my post about having these pans retinned HERE.  I wouldn’t pay to have copper pieces retinned unless you are going to cook with them and unless they were high-quality copper that is worth the investment.  It wasn’t overly expensive, but you still don’t want to put money into something that isn’t really worth the maintenance.

There are a couple of exceptions when cooking with unlined copper pieces.  One of them is copper mixing bowls, which are the best way to whip up egg whites.  There is a reaction that happens between the eggs whites and the copper that makes them smooth, creamy, and fluffy.  If you are curious about the science behind it, you can read and article HERE.  The second one is cooking when sugar is involved as in jams, jellies, preserves, frostings, brittles, and sweet sauces like caramel and chocolate.  You can read the science of why that works so well HERE.

collecting copper | are there specific brands or marks you look for?

I don’t really look for any particular brand, but tend to be drawn to copper pieces that were made in England, France, or Germany.  Most of the pieces in my copper collection have come from those three countries.  Mauviel is the top-of-the-line (that I know of) so that brand is always desirable if you find it!  I won’t turn my nose up to pieces that I like that were made in other places, though.  This fish mold is a recent purchase (part of a 3-piece set I found at an antique store for $15) that is by Benjamin & Medwin of New York.  I loved the shape, though, and it fit what I look for in a copper piece.

It’s also important to note that copper prices can vary significantly.  You can find some great bargains online but are more likely to find deals at flea markets and in antique stores, specifically when copper pieces are being sold by vendors who don’t specialize in copper.  They may lump all of the molds or pots together and there is a real gem mixed in.  When I shopped for an antique copper mold in Paris, I had sticker shock at the prices!

But, I was able to find a French-made antique copper mold at an Italian antique market for about €80, if I remember correctly, compared to €300-350 at the Paris flea markets.

I will add a note that it pays to look at old copper pieces on and to become familiar with popular shapes and styles.  I found this gorgeous antique copper mold at an antique store, but it was so dirty and badly tarnished that I couldn’t even tell it was copper.  I recognized the design, though, and took a chance that it would clean up nicely.  I was pleasantly surprised when the copper quickly peaked through the grime and tarnish!  (The design I recognized was the “coin” design, named because it looks like a fanned-out stack of coins along the top of the pan.)

The last question I’m asked about often is how I clean my copper pieces, but I will share all about that in another post since this one is getting a little lengthy!

I’m not a copper expert, but I just love collecting it.  To me, it adds warmth and a sense of history to a kitchen.  It also looks like a serious cook works in this kitchen!  I don’t know if I can live up to all of the fancy French copper I have in my kitchen, but I do enjoy trying!