Coal buckets were introduced in the 1800s to carry coal and were typically made of light metals or wood. They are asymmetrical in shape, with a design that makes it easy to pour coal over a fire or fireplace. Today, they are used for both practical and ornamental purposes. Some people also use them to hold logs for wood stoves.
A coal or coal bucket is a bucket designed to carry coal. Coal kettles are typically asymmetrical in shape, with a design that makes it easy to pour coal over a fire or fireplace. While charcoal fireplaces aren’t as common as they once were, many people keep drums of charcoal around as decorative items, especially if their decor or homes have an antique feel.
The coal pit was introduced in the 1800s; the word “scuttle” in this sense derives from the Latin scutella, “serving dish”, in turn borrowed from the word for shield, scutum. Before the introduction of the coal bucket, people used ordinary buckets or deep shovels to haul coal, which could be a real problem in large homes, as coal was typically stored in cellars.
Most charcoal buckets resemble gravy boats. The lip end of the coal bucket, just like that of the gravy boat, is designed for pouring, while the top end of the coal canister prevents the coal from rolling around as the canister is carried up stairs. One or two handles may be attached to a charcoal bucket, depending on the design, and charcoal bins can be short and squat, or tall and slender.
In many cases, coal kettles were made of light metals, so they were strong and easy to handle. All tin, brass and copper were used, with some makers covering their kettles with embossing and other ornaments so that the vessel could be left by the fire in a well-appointed room. Coal kettles could also be made of wood.
Several companies continue to produce charcoal kettles, for both practical and ornamental use. It is also occasionally possible to find coal kettles in antique shops, although the high demand for genuine antiques can sometimes make an antique well quite expensive.
Some people with wood stoves have taken advantage of the convenience of the coal bucket, building or purchasing small racks to hold a few logs for the fire so they don’t have to leave the heat of the room for wood. It is also possible to see particularly capacious scuttles intended for the transport and storage of logs for wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. Burlap is often used to construct scuttle-like wood stands, as it is light and easy to handle, and can be wrapped around the wood to secure it before transporting.
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