Antique Confit Pot. Antique Crock Pot. Huge, French Antique Stoneware Pot

  

This is a fabulous, extra large, antique, early 1900's, French confit pot. It is a gorgeous accent piece for a period kitchen / rustic farmhouse. Excellent for storing kitchen utensils or as a planter for herbs. It was hand thrown, and must have "wobbled" slightly on the potters wheel, as it has all the original clay marks, and undulations - fabulously charming and unique!

It dates from the early 1900's. It is handmade and therefore has a charming, slightly uneven, surface texture and rough glaze style. This pot is in great condition for its 100 year age. The bottom has "edge nibbles", a rough texture and a few "grazes" but nothing serious to effect the integrity. It's glaze is "chippy" and it has flaws and gouges that were present at the firing and glazing stages, but no cracks post firing. It is still perfectly watertight. It is utterly charming, with it's "dints" and "indentations". A truly rustic treasure "aged to perfection", original and authentic! It's neutral colour makes it the perfect accessory for French provincial interiors.

It weighs a heavy 3kgs/ 6.6 lbs! It stands 19cms/ 7½" tall, is 20cms / 8" diameter (at the base) 28cms/ 11 wide to the handle.

The opening is 16.5cms / 6½. Confit is the French word that means "to preserve" and these pots were used for storing cooked meats for long term storage in stone-lined larders or underground cellars. This storage process preserved the cooked meat without refrigeration so it could then be enjoyed throughout the winter months. Cuts of duck and goose were dry-cured in salt before being rinsed, dried and then poached very slowly at a low temperature in lots of fat. Because the meat is cooked very slowly, the chemical structure changes, leaving it evenly tender all the way through. When the meat is cooked, it is set aside to cool in the fat, so that it is completely covered and sealed from the air, and would have been stored in the pot it was cooked in, much the same as jugged meat of the medieval period. Confit d'oie is preserved goose and confit de canard is preserved duck. These two French classic dishes originated in "Confit country", the area of Occitan France. We've lots more Rustic Farmhouse Décor if you'd like to take a look.