Trying to figure out who made a particular pot or pan? Here are some starting points that might help you.

Field Guides

I have a growing set of posts about some of the more well-known European coppersmiths of the 19th and 20th century.

Stamps

When you have a piece of copper in front of you, the first thing to look for are stamps — words, numbers, logos, or symbols that were pressed into the copper. Stamps can help identify not only the maker of a pot, but also the time period in which it was made.

Here are some of the different types of stamps you might find.

• The maker of the piece
• The store that sold it
• Numbers for the size of the pan or to identify it (and its lid) in a busy kitchen
• The name or initials of a former owner

My Stamps page has a more detailed explanation of this, and links to posts that list the ones I know.

Construction

You can sometimes estimate the age of a pan by looking at the techniques used to make it. From the 19th and into the 20th century, these techniques changed a great deal, and so understanding the approximate time window for the craftsmanship of your pans can help you date it.

Please see the Construction page to get started.