Ladies International Curling Kettle

The trophy is a toddy kettle in the shape of a curling stone, with an ivory handle, supported on two pairs of crossed brooms, or broom kowes, to use the older name, which are in turn supported on crossed crampits, which were used on outdoor ice in place of hacks. Below the body of the kettle is a spirit burner.

Until the beginning of the twentieth century in Scotland whisky was commonly taken – in homes and bars alike – as “toddy”, that is, mixed with a little boiling water. On bar counters little kettles, kept piping hot by spirit burners, were often to be found.

Since toddy was often the accompaniment of out door curling matches and bonspiels it was natural that the ordinary kettle should be transformed into a “curling stone kettle”, and used as a gift or a trophy. There are toddy kettles of this shape throughout Scotland from the 1840s onwards. Some are still played for annually, such as The Finnie Kettle, which is contested for by curling clubs in central Ayrshire.

It is, therefore, very appropriate that this fine silver-plated kettle, the Ladies International Curling Kettle, should have become the trophy for the Glynhill Ladies International.

Trophy information by David B. Smith