This is the large size of the witches' cauldron: deep enough to burn herbs and resins without the smoke escaping all at once, and heavy enough to stay put wherever you set it down.
🔥 What it is for
It is a burner. A lit charcoal disc goes inside and, on top of it, the grain incense, resin or dried herbs. Cast iron takes high temperatures without warping or cracking, which is why this shape is still in use. With the lid on, the smoke escapes slowly through the gap; without it, the smoke rises all at once. Away from the smoke it also works as an altar vessel: for keeping herbs, for burning paper, or as a point of fire on a working table.
✨ The pentagram
It carries a raised pentagram on one side. In tradition it stands for the five elements —earth, air, fire, water and spirit— and is used as a symbol of protection. It is cast into the piece itself, neither glued nor painted, so it will not come off or wear away.
How to light grain incense
Put a layer of sand or a charcoal plate in the bottom so the disc does not sit directly on the iron. Light the charcoal at one edge until it sparks and wait until it is covered in grey ash: that is when it is ready. Then place a few grains of incense on top; three or four are enough. If you want the smoke to last longer, put the lid on and leave it ajar.
🤝 What else you will need
The cauldron burns nothing on its own. You need liturgical charcoal, the disc everything else sits on, and whatever you plan to burn: grain incense, resin or dried herbs. If you want it smaller, there is the plain cauldron at 9 × 11 cm, the same shape but without the pentagram, and the pentagram burner at 8.5 × 4 cm, a low piece with the star cut through the lid.
⚠️ Safety
Cast iron heats up throughout: body, lid, legs and handle. Pick it up by the handle only, using a cloth, and do not move it until it has cooled. Always stand it on a heat-resistant surface —stone, ceramic or metal— and never directly on wood, fabric or plastic, even though it has legs. Do not leave it unattended while charcoal is burning, and ventilate the room.
Frequently asked questions
Can it be used for cooking or making infusions?
It is not made for that. It is an altar burner, with no food-safe treatment, and charcoal and resins leave residue in the bottom. For infusions, use a kitchen vessel.
Does it rust?
Cast iron can rust if it is left damp. Dry it thoroughly after cleaning and store it somewhere dry.
Is there a smaller version?
Yes. The plain cauldron measures 9 × 11 cm and has this same shape —lid, three legs and bail handle— but without the pentagram. This one, at 19 × 17 cm, takes several charcoal discs at once, whole herbs, or paper to burn.
📋 Specifications
| Dimensions | 19 cm wide × 17 cm tall |
| Material | Cast iron |
| Includes | Lid with knob and folding bail handle |
| Design | Raised pentagram, three legs |
| Use | Burning charcoal, grain incense, resins and herbs |
🧼 Cleaning and care
Wait until it is completely cold. Empty the ash and wipe the inside with a dry cloth or a brush. If you wash it with water, dry it thoroughly afterwards so it does not rust. It needs no soap: the layer of ash and soot that builds up with use is normal and does not need removing.
