What is antique French faience?

Antique French faience refers to tin-glazed earthenware decorated with painted designs over an opaque white surface. These pieces range from eighteenth-century chargers to nineteenth-century vases. Production centred in specific towns like Quimper, Nevers, and Desvres, each developing distinct colour palettes and regional motifs.

How were confit pots used?

Confit pots were heavy earthenware storage vessels utilised in rural French kitchens for preserving duck, pork, or other meats in fat. Their interiors featured dense green or clear glazes to prevent oil seepage. Today, collectors appreciate these jars for their robust terracotta bodies and simple, functional forms suited to interior display.

Are these ceramics waterproof?

Most antique earthenware and faience pieces have porous clay bodies sealed with glazes, but older glazes can develop fine micro-crazing over time. Utilitarian vessels like confit pots and oil jugs held liquids originally, but delicate decorative vases should be handled with care. Using a modern inner liner is advisable if you intend to display fresh flowers in antique vases.

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Antique French Earthenware

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Antique French earthenware brings together centuries of regional pottery, from tin-glazed tablewares to heavy green-glazed storage jars, valued for their hand-shaped character.