A Copper Watering Can

Today we share the story of a favourite object from the museum’s own collections, by Cherry Ann Knott. Cherry says:

A thing of beauty … and a very useful, practical object  … its design is so good, and works so well, it has barely changed over centuries! This particular example is in the Museum’s own collections.

I love it because it has evidently been well-used in its long lifetime – it has dents, repairs and many signs of use. It has an excellent ‘structural’ and functional design, with a generous over-arching main handle allowing multiple positions for the hands holding it to adjust according to the amount of water in it. The brace supporting the large diameter spout also gives a holding position for a second hand when the can is full. The large multi-perforated rose allows a gentle but wide sprinkling of water.