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HUDSON BAY COMPANY TRADE KETTLE – SCARCE LARGE
SIZE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH LEGIBLE COMPANY STAMP:
This original Hudson Bay Company Trade Kettle has
survived in excellent condition with a legible “HBC
O“ stamp. One of the iconic items from the
inventory of the famous Hudson Bay Company, these brass
kettles were carried to the tribes across the North
American Frontier during the height of the fur trade
era.
This kettle is remarkable in its size as most of the
relatively few surviving Hudson Bay Company kettles are
the much smaller pail-size, where this kettle is large
enough to boil enough buffalo meat for a tribal feast.
If size was a factor in attracting the eyes of the
customer, this kettle would have caught the attention of
a woman with plenty of furs to trade and with a desire
to impress the neighbors.
Measuring 19” in diameter and 14” high, this kettle has
survived in excellent condition with no holes, punctures
or repairs. Retaining its original shape, there are no
significant dents in the sides, and the rounded bottom –
a design feature intended to keep the contents from
burning during the cooking – has a few dents around the
periphery, probably occurring during the shaping
process. The “HBC O“ stamp is applied on the
inside surface of the kettle, just below the rim. The
“H” is faint where the stamping die didn’t contact the
curve of the brass, but the rest of the stamp is fully
legible.
The rim is reinforced with a forged iron band which is
attached to the brass body with hand set rivets. The
kettle is complete with the original hand forged iron
bail which moves freely in the rings forged integral to
the rim. The brass body is rolled over the top edge of
the iron rim band. There are a couple of spots where
the brass over the rim edge has been worn away through
use, but none of these wear points negatively affect the
integrity of the kettle nor do they detract from the
overall appearance. All of the forging and the riveting
presents as consistent with the original manufacture.
Many of these kettles were simply used to destruction,
and what was left of them – the sheet brass and iron
bands – were soon unrecognizable as they were repurposed
into other implements and decorations.
This is an impressive survivor from the Fur Trade Era,
and certainly one that would be a focal point in any
display or collection of Northwest Trade Guns or relics
from the fur trade. (1013) $650
A Note on Shipping: While not
particularly heavy (approximately 10 lbs.), this kettle
is large and will have to be shipped in a box
sufficiently large enough to provide it with adequate
protection in transit. As of now, March of 2025, the
best estimate of shipping costs will be right at $125,
including the insurance. I will pack and ship the
kettle for that, and will cover any additional cost
should it be over that estimate. I think that’s a
pretty good deal.
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