Your Selection
Workshops
Finding copper
Most cookware available for purchase today focuses on ‘high tech’ solutions, with shiny chrome gadgets promising to make life in the kitchen easier and faster. There’s a few foodies at Archibald, which is no surprise when there’s quite a few Italians on the team. With an appreciation of a slower pace in the kitchen comes an understanding that the old ways are often the best at producing a delectable final result. And there’s no material more renowned for cooking with than copper. It is unsurpassable in terms of heat conductivity, warming quickly and cooling just as fast, giving the discerning chef an incredible amount of control over whatever is simmering in the pot.
The search
A quick google search throws up very few copper cookware producers worth their salt, with most exclusively providing their wares for michelin starred eateries on an industrial scale. There’s also quite a few suspect suppliers offering a suspiciously inexpensive product. Copper cookware requires an experienced pair of hands and access to the right raw material that’s heavy and pure enough to withstand wear and high temperatures. Low grade copper cookware is ubiquitous, and the Italian foodies amongst us were unimpressed by the shoddy offerings they sniffed out without trouble. Eventually Orlando (who sources our products) was tipped off by a family friend in the restaurant business about a small, family-owned workshop in the city of Trento that hand-hammered exquisite copper cookware.
Andrea’s workshop
Nestled in the arresting Adige River Valley is the medieval city of Trento, renowned as a cultural and political hub in Northern Italy. It’s a unique place with a time honoured commitment to craftsmanship and an eye to the future, where culture and craft mix with new ideas. Andrea opened his copper workshop at the age of sixteen with over three generations of metalwork to his family name in the fifties. He’s committed to preserving the traditional skills passed down in his family, working his beautiful pieces entirely by hand to make sure each is just right.
Andrea has made sure that his children and grandchildren understand the nuances and subtleties of metalwork just as intuitively, working alongside them so that his craft is preserved well into the future. Hand-hammering is a unique skill that requires study and practice, and Andrea saves the trickiest bespoke pieces for himself- that is, until his proteges are ready to take over. Once we had toured the workshop we stayed for dinner and sampled Canederli, bread dumplings endemic of the region. We weren’t sure if it was the copper pot they were boiled in or the effect of a balmy summer night and a few glasses of fine red wine- in any case, there was unanimous agreement at the dinner table that it was a beautifully cooked meal. And one that wouldn’t be forgotten for a long time.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. By using this site, you are accepting our cookies policy.
Learn More
Archibald, (Un)dressed - our entire collection, up to 25% off
Archibald, (Un)dressed - our entire collection, up to 25% off
Archibald was founded on the principle of bringing people together to celebrate quality, craftsmanship, and human excellence. We want to allow as many people as possible to own and enjoy items made by the world’s most talented craftsmen using only the finest materials.
With this in mind, we never intended to offer discounts or operate sales of any sort because our pricing approach didn’t build in an ability to do so. Traditional retail operates on the false-discount model, where the price they expect you to purchase for is generally different from the sticker price of the item being sold. We opted against these games and prioritized value, offering fair and transparent pricing as a fundamental tenet of our brand.
Over the past few years, we faced significant challenges that tested our resilience. From a craftsman altering product specifications without notice during the pandemic to delayed pre-orders of sneakers in early 2023, these events brought us to the brink. However, each challenge has ultimately strengthened our commitment to excellence. With lessons learned, we’ve worked hard to ensure that today, our brand is stronger—in product, systems, and service. Yet, we know there is always room for growth, and we remain focused on continually improving the experience we offer you.
More importantly, these issues, though resolved, caused frustration among some of our customers. While many of the negative reviews don’t reflect the extensive efforts made to resolve each incident—often resulting in happy outcomes—those experiences still prompted some customers to voice their dissatisfaction. We understand that each represents a moment where we could have done better, and we take each one seriously.
If our products intend to stand alongside those from brands we look up to, like Brunello Cucinelli, Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Loewe, then offering them through a more direct and inclusive pricing model should not compromise the level of service and experience that accompanies them. The artisans we work with have dedicated their lives to creating exceptional products, and anything less than an equally exceptional experience would do a disservice to their craft—and to you, our valued customers.
For the time being, as we continue to build back strong, Archibald is (Un)dressed and you can enjoy a generous 25% off our already disruptive and fair prices.
Enter Archibald, (Un)dressed.
Enter Archibald, (Un)dressed.
Please enter your email below to activate ‘Archibald, (Un)dressed and subscribe to our newsletter.
Why do I have to enter my email?