One of the more unusual items at Thomas del Mar’s auction of arms and militaria in London on December 2 is a copper saucepan. Not just any copper saucepan. This one has strong historic connections and is from the Crimea. It is inscribed: “taken from the ruins of Sebastopol, the day after the fall, Septr 9, 1855” by A Farquharson, cook of the S.S. Imperatrix. It is estimated at £150-200.
The siege of Sebastopol had lasted a year, from September 1854 to September 1855 and is regarded as one of the classic sieges of all time. It was the final episode of the Crimean War.