PKS Bronze 'Auva' Solid Bronze Border Spade
£147.00
Auva is a slender, elegant spade for working in flower borders or the kitchen garden. A thing of great beauty, the polished head is fashioned from work-hardened bronze and curved in two planes for added strength. The blade's edge is sharpened, allowing it to slice through the soil easily. A lip at the top of the blade provides extra purchase for your boots. One might go as far as to call it the Queen of Spades!
This beautiful spade would make a superb birthday, anniversary or retirement gift.
Bronze tools offer the advantage of being inherently rust-free, anti-microbial and low-friction. They also make fantastic gifts for the gardener who has everything. To find out more about the benefits of bronze tools, click here.
- Overall dimensions: 114 cm x 15 cm
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Crafted from bronze with a steam-bent ash wood handle and a beech T bar
- Handmade in Austria by PKS Bronze
I aim to pick and pack your order within 24 hours of receipt and you should expect your parcel to arrive within 3–5 working days under normal circumstances. Orders placed on a Friday may not be sent until the following Monday. All delivery charges are calculated and displayed at the checkout.
- If your order can safely be sent in an envelope or small parcel, it will be sent by Royal Mail via a tracked service for £3.50. This doesn't require a signature but does let you know where your parcel is.
- Larger orders will be sent either with Royal Mail or a premium courier service for £4.95. Tracking details will be sent via SMS and/or email, if these contacts are provided.
- Extra large or heavy items will be sent via a premium courier service with tracking provided. Delivery is normally the next working day after dispatch.
- For deliveries to Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and international addresses, please drop me a line at atyourservice@dancoopergarden.com letting me know where you are in the world and what you'd like to purchase. I will check the items are allowed to be shipped to your location and get a cost for your approval.
Should you need to return an item, drop me a line at atyourservice@dancoopergarden.com within 14 days of receiving your purchase, providing your name, order number and the reason for your return. I will let you know how to return your item.
Please visit my Delivery & Returns page for more detailed information.
There is so much to commend bronze tools that it's difficult to understand why we don't use them more often. Not only are they highly practical, but they also make elegant gifts for gardeners when they are new and still gleaming.
In its pure form, copper can be shaped or beaten without cracking. When combined with small amounts of other metals, particularly tin to create bronze, copper maintains its flexibility while becoming significantly harder and more durable. Bronze tools are sharp and can be easily re-sharpened with a whetstone or file. Additionally, because bronze has a low coefficient of friction, soil tends to cling less to its surface. This allows bronze tools to glide smoothly through the ground. They require minimal cleaning; however, they can become dented if they strike solid rock or other hidden obstacles.
Copper does not rust, which gives bronze tools a much longer lifespan than those made from iron and steel. Over time, they develop an attractive, conker-brown patina that helps protect the underlying metal. As bronze tools are used, tiny amounts of copper are deposited in the soil, which benefits microorganisms while deterring slugs and snails. Moreover, traces of copper enhance the soil's water retention, which is especially beneficial in light, sandy, or dry conditions.
To restore the bright surface of bronze tools, use a gentle metal polish such as Brasso. Avoid products that contain concentrated acids, as they may damage the metal's surface.
