Friday, August 5, 2011

Confit Pots. You Can't Have Just One!


No, this isn't a new confit pot!
Just the same one that I carried back from Houston last year.

It has had a lot of exposure on this blog, always ready for a still life photo, or serving as a vase for a tablescape.

I would love to add more confit pots to my collection, but they are so darned expensive!

Technically, I don't have a collection. A collection is defined as three or more.
I only have two. This large confit pot...

...and this little one, which was the first one I bought, several years ago.

The confit pot behind the majolica jug is a reproduction from Pottery Barn last year, so it doesn't count.
Still, I like this grouping, the way the pots all relate to one another.

This confit pot belongs to Terri of La Dolfina, from the photo shoot we did for Rough Linen last year, here.

I just love this vignette of pots a confit in the windowsill of my friend Lisa's kitchen.
This is what I'm aiming for. A grouping like this, especially for the Tuscan Style photo shoot coming up!

These pots are meant to be grouped together!

So, I'm shopping on Ebay and other online antique sites, and am frequenting my favorite antique stores. Also, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I find that special one at the flea market Sunday.
You know, the one that is reasonably priced without being too badly damaged!

Here is a close-up of a beauty I found on Ebay. It's 150 years old and is actually very well priced at $279.50.
Not bad, considering the green pot above was over $900!

Why are they so expensive? Mostly because they are all one of a kind, over 100 years old, and somewhat picked over by now because of their ever increasing popularity. Originally used in the South of France for the preservation of meat like duck and goose, the bottoms were left unglazed and buried in the ground to keep the meat cool.

Confit pots. There is no way you can have just one!


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28 comments:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh they are definitely gorgeous. I would love some. Maybe I have to try and paint some, all I could possibly do is ruin a cheap pot. Hugs, Marty

Ames said...

I saw one of these in a thrift store. I wish I had picked it up when I first saw it. When I went back it was gone!~Ames

Sarah said...

These are perfect for Asti. Hope you find more. Love the vignettes. Each offer wonderful texture.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Those prices are crazy. I just found a super deal on another one last weekend and will share it soon. Love them. I hope you can find some deals. The ones I have found always say old olive jar on the tag. I guess they are the same thing.

Kathysue said...

Oh Delores i would be thrilled to just have one!! I have had these on my radar for years and have not found any bargains along the way. I do agree there is nothing prettier than a grouping. They do marry very well together. I love love the image of the confit pots in the window, it is a fav of mine. Do you remember the image of the kitchen with yellow ware and ochre confit pots on open shelving that I had on a yellow post and it has traveled around blog land, You would love that image. I will see if I can find it and send it to you, xo Kathysue

for the love of a house said...

I couldn't agreee more Delores! I have a "collection" myself;) I think 6 at last count... yes, very addictive. Mine are actually in the storage room- I'm hoping to find them a home in the barn room!

happy weekend!
joan

p.s. I don't know if you saw my reply, but the gravel is "pea", locally quarried.

Michele Smith said...

Those are gorgeous...I think I know what I will be on the hunt for next!

Tricia Rose Rough Linen said...

Aren't they wonderful - are they the same as the ones traditionally used for cassoulet? I'll have to do some research, though I'm too clumsy to risk these myself. Asti is their spiritual home though~

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Delores, I also love Confit pots and I have one old one and two reproductions. I am always on the look-out for an original at a good price. Your pictures are wonderful!
xo,
Sherry

Barb @ The Everyday Home said...

I only have one....a faker trying to pass itself off as genuine. haha

Love yours. I love their versatility too. My fave shot above is the one where herbs are flowing out. What a beautiful still life. Hope you are well. have a great weekend. :)

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

I would love, love, love to ahve just ONE!!!! They are so pretty!!!!! Maybe Santa will hear me???? Maybe............ I can hope:):) XO, Pinky

carolyn bradford said...

Beautiful post on confit pots!! We have a great selection in our shop! You were so sweet to comment on our last blog post! I really want you to see our grain sack ottomans and chairs! They are my love and I was so glad to see someone that loved them as much as I do!!! I know that sounds crazy! but....when you find someone that has such great taste like you do...well...need I say more? Your work is incredible and I certainly appreciate it! I look forward to all of your posts!
Thanks so much!!!
Carolyn Bradford

The enchanted home said...

So pretty and its so versatile! I love how you have shown its many "lives" and each and every one of them is quite spectacular!!

sharon santoni at my french country home said...

there's something about pottery that just takes it through the ages, though fashions and fads. These pots are beautiful

Lissa (Bellenza) said...

Wow, you learn something new every day! Thanks so much for that impromptu lesson on confit pots. They look lovely!

Anonymous said...

Just the rustic texture of those gorgeous pots on their own is beautiful! The picture with the herbs spilling out... be still my heart! :)
Rosemary...

The French Hutch said...

Like you I would love a collection of confit pots. I have a fake one and it serves me well. I love them grouped together. Mine is not old, I bought a new reproduction on sale at Pottery Barn. The real deal is way out of my budget. I love how you use yours for everything too.
I am so excited for you about the photo shoot with Tuscan Style, that is Huge. Congratulations! I'll be sure to buy a copy........

~Emily
The French Hutch

La Vie Quotidienne said...

These are wonderful and so charming, I can see why you like them so much.

under spanish moss said...

We adore confit pots...they are beautiful in any decor. We're with you, so expensive we have to collect slowly. Hope you weekend is beautiful!
Angela and Renee

Hill Country House Girl said...

Delores, I love these pots too! I have a few for sale. I have taken them to the shows I do here in the hill country, but not everyone appreciates the old ones. Email me if you would like me to send you some photos. Ann at annw1953@gmail.com

Lovely images in this post!!

RobinfromCA said...

There is something about those Confit pots that take you straight away to the South of France or to Tuscany. I can just smell the lavender or the rosemary growing out of them because I don't want to smell stored meat - that removes some of the romance. ;-)

Robin

Lori said...

Thanks for the history lesson. Now I will have to be on the look out too. How can you know they are not knock offs, if I see one?

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

I was not familiar with these before reading this but I have to say that they are absolutely stunning!!

Thanks for sharing these with us!

Hugs,
Deb

Victoria said...

Hi, Delores. I also love confit pots and have been collecting them for twenty years. I just bought my ninth one last week. They do look best in a grouping, it is just that my grouping keeps getting larger. Oh well, there are worse obsessions.

Karen T. said...

Love my confit pots! I have two yellow and three green ones. I got them years ago and glad I did considering the prices you say they're going for now. I thought I was paying a lot at $125 for the most expensive one. Good post.

Decor To Adore said...

Ok, this is now my third visit back to this post. I finally pinned a few of the images.

I bought my confit pot in France this past spring. I wrote about it in a Van Gogh post in May.) You're right, one is never enough.
Stalking ebay and wishing I had seen the pots in Pottery Barn.

Justine, The Green Bough Co said...

Hello there! I've just stumbled across this fab post on confit pots... I, too, love confits - especially those from the Haute Vienne, France. And a quick tip for one and all: should you ever be travelling through that way (which I do every now and agin, buying for my online antiques / vintage store) confit pots are SO much better value bought there than almost anywhere else in the world. You can literally expect to pay less than half of what's been chatted about here, and this for a genuinely antique piece!
Justine, Green Bough

andrew1860 said...

Hi Delores I found your post doing research on theses French pots. I just bought two today for $30. with the rare green glaze. The dealer has one more that I will run down to buy. I did not realize that they were so costly. thanks for the post!!!

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