Antique Oliera

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Pizza
Antique oliera

Copper oil cruet from Naples

These copper oil cruets (olieras) are used all over Italy, but particularly in the south around Naples. I found this one while perusing eBay.it. The women selling it said it had been her grandfather’s oliera while he operated a pizzeria around the turn of the century. It was it terrible shape – the copper was covered in green goo, there were dents, it was missing the connector from the spout to the body, and the inside tin was not safe for food. I bought it anyway. It was from Naples, it was 100 years old, and it was used in a pizzeria. What more could you want in an oliera?

I sent it to Mike Davis atĀ Davis Silver Co. in Hanson, MA for a full restoration. He did an amazing job. The cruet is now used daily, and of course for the final swirls (in the sign of the cross) on a pizza Napoletana about to be baked in my wood firedĀ oven.

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