Villedieu-Les-Poêles 16” Copper Rondeau, Jam Pot C. 1920–1940 – Untouched, Never Retinned

Details

Description

A museum-grade survivor from the golden age of French copper. This 16-inch (40 cm) hand-hammered rondeau was forged in Villedieu-les-Poêles, … Read more A museum-grade survivor from the golden age of French copper. This 16-inch (40 cm) hand-hammered rondeau was forged in Villedieu-les-Poêles, Normandy — the 800-year cradle of French coppersmithing — and built for grand-scale professional kitchens: brasseries, châteaux, or luxury hotels serving 50+ guests at a time.
Never retinned, never polished, never repaired. The original hand-wiped tin lining (applied in the 1920s–30s) remains 100% intact, aged to a deep gunmetal patina from decades of use. The exterior shows honest, untouched wear — warm copper with micro-pitting, factory “tin flash” on the rim, and razor-sharp hammer marks preserved exactly as the coppersmith left them a century ago.

Handles: Cast iron, triple-riveted, hand-peened.

Maker: Unmarked — consistent with Gaillard, Jacquotot, or top-tier atelier stock.

One professional retinning ($250–$300) transforms it into a $2,000+ heirloom capable of confit for 40, bouillabaisse for 30, or jam for a village.

Investment Note:
Comparable 16” pre-war Villedieu pieces (when found) exceed $3,000 restored. This is a rare untouched example. See less