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antique French copper oval pot
Stamped twice with the name that defined professional French kitchens for generations, this antique French copper oval pot comes directly from E. Dehillerin, the legendary cookware house at 18 Rue Coquilliere in Paris. The oval cocotte -- the French term for a lidded braising pot -- was the workhorse of the classic French brigade kitchen, used for braises, daubes and slow-cooked roasts from the nineteenth century onward. Dehillerin supplied cooks at the highest levels of French gastronomy, and pieces bearing their mark are among the most sought-after in antique cookware collecting.
Formed from heavy-gauge copper, the body is oval with generously rounded corners and near-vertical sides that give it a clean, architectural presence. The fitted lid carries a solid brass bail handle, secured with period-appropriate mounts; matching cast brass loop handles are riveted to each end of the body with copper rivets, a hallmark of serious professional construction. The interior retains its tin lining, clearly visible in the lid shots and in good order. The exterior copper has deepened to a warm, layered rose tone with the kind of honest patina that no reproduction can replicate. This piece sits equally well on a kitchen shelf as a focal display, within a collection of French copper, or back at work on the stove.
Condition and patina consistent with age. Light surface scratches and minor denting to the copper body are visible, as expected for a working piece of this era; the tin lining shows age-related darkening and light spotting.
Approx. 12.6 in wide x 8.1 in deep x 7.1 in high (32 x 20.5 x 18 cm), with copper walls approximately 0.8 in thick (2 mm). Weight 7.45 kg.
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