Cast iron kettles such as this were used in the making of sugar. This one is about 5 1/2 feet across. People use them now as fish ponds or lily ponds. The monks at St. Joseph Abbey use this one as a piece of art and Louisiana history.
We had one on Perilloux Place after sugar cane was no longer the crop grown. We used it as a water trough for the cows and horses. My mother was always afraid a child would drown in it.
They now cost a fortune as collectors' items.
There are many more photos with some history in my St. Joseph's Abbey gallery.