CRUCKLES

Incorporate beautiful vintage pots from the South of France into your interior design.
From traditional confit pots to beautiful glazed pots.

WHY CHOOSE FRENCH VINTAGE PRODUCTS

  • AUTHENTICITY

    Old French products have soul and history.

    A rich cultural heritage means that each product carries a proud tradition, which adds depth and authenticity.

    These are things created to be used, loved, and preserved through generations.

  • QUALITY & DESIGN

    French quality is meticulous craftsmanship that is about more than just function – it is about tradition, details and timeless design.

    Each product is created with a focus on durability, carefully selected materials and the characteristic French expression.

  • ATMOSPHERE

    French products not only create functionality, but also a very special atmosphere at the table, in the bistro and in the home. They invite to cosiness, elegance and presence, where every detail contributes to an inviting atmosphere.

FRENCH JARS – FROM CONFIT JARS TO CLASSIC STORAGE JARS

French jars ooze rustic charm while maintaining a functional design. Our range spans from the classic beautiful confit jars that have been used for centuries to store duck fat and food - to elegant and decorative glazed jars.

At Fransk Brocante , all of our jars Fransk Brocante from France, and our confit jars in particular come from the Gascony region, where the glaze often has darker shades of yellow and sometimes a slight greenish tint.

    Discover our hand-picked selection of French pots, vintage terracotta pots, and antique flower pots—perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.

    See our selection of French pots. 

    Antique French terracotta confit pots

    CONFIT JARS – POT À GRAISSE

    The word confit comes from the French word confire, which means “to preserve.”
    The classic French confit pots—also known aspots à graisse —originate from southwestern France, particularly the regions of Gascony and the Dordogne, and were originally used to store confit duck and pork.

    The meat was covered with fat and placed in the jar to extend its shelf life. A tradition dating back to the 1700s. 

    The jars are characterized by the fact that they are glazed on the inside and on the upper part of the outside, partly to make them easy to clean, but also to let the clay breathe on the lower part. The glaze is either yellow, green or slightly honey-colored. 

    Nowadays, confit jars are no longer used for food storage but rather as decorations in the kitchen or garden. 

     

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    Novia Lyon jar with a stamp on the bottom

    POPULARITY & USAGE

    Confit jars and French jars in general are loved far beyond the borders of France today - not only for their history, but also for their unique aesthetics.

    Each jar is handmade and has its own expression, often with beautiful patina, traces of use and variations in the glaze, crazing over time, etc. - they obviously tell a story of many years of life in French country kitchens. Authenticity and uniqueness that you can't buy with new products. 

    At the same time, the old French pots fit perfectly into a modern interior. Their warm colors and rusticity create a contrast to the minimalist design we see especially in the Nordic countries.

    Collectors of confit jars and jam jars, in particular, seek out original glazes and patina—and, for some, original labels.

    It is often the case that the older the pots are, the more beautiful they become, thanks to their authentic patina. 

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    Antique French jar with green glaze

    PRICES

    The price of old French jars varies greatly depending on size, age, condition, color and especially rarity. 

    The following is based on clay and confit jars.

    • Small yellow jam jars: 250–900 DKK
    • Smaller confit pots (20–25 cm): 850–2,500 DKK
    • Large confit jars (30–40 cm): 1,200–3,000 DKK
    • Rare colors / special glazes: 3,000–6,000+ DKK

    In France, small confit jars (under 15 cm) cost more than the large ones—simply because they are very hard to come by and there is less variety. Their size made them more prone to breaking and being thrown away.

    The most sought-after old French confit jars are those that are many years old (17th and 19th century) and have an unusual color or glaze. 

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    French vintage jars

    FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT JARS AND CONFIT JARS

    Jar

    What types of French pots does Fransk Brocante sell?

    Our range has two types of French pots. 

    The rustic ones, if you can call them that. That is, terracotta jars with various glazes, such as confit jars (pots à graisse), jam jars (pots à marmelade/pots à confiture), mustard jars (pots à moutarde), and storage jars (pots de réserve). 

    We also have earthenware jars from de GIEN, Sarreguemines, Digoin, Martres Tolosanes etc. These jars are more refined in their surfaces and shapes as they were not used to preserve food, but rather to store and serve dry goods, flowers or simply as decorative objects. The period for these jars is the 1800s to mid 1900s. 

    How can you determine the age of a confit jar?

    Most early confit jars dating back to the 17th and 19th centuries are often characterized by being assymmetrical and hand-turned. Therefore, there are irregularities in the shape and thickness and they are usually lower and rounder. 

    The glaze on the oldest jars is often transparent green, light mustard yellow, or honey-colored, and is very uneven, with visible drips and runs. From the mid-1800s onward, the glaze becomes more uniform and covers only the upper part of the jar. 

    And the latest 20th century pots are more elegant and uniform in their glazing, with fewer drips and more opaque color.  

     

    Patina—how much?

    For all time periods there are signs of age. This is inevitable when many of the pots are antique. The natural patina develops over time and also contributes to making the pots unique and desirable. 

    Some pots will have small chips and cracks and often these are not considered flaws but part of the authenticity of the pot. Cracks that don't go all the way through rarely affect appearance or function. As they are collectibles, there will also be jars that have been glued over time - often this does not change the function. 

    Peeling glaze - especially around the rim and handles - is hard to avoid as these are jars that have been lifted and used many times. 

    What are French confit jars used for these days?

    French jars today are used for kitchen utensils, as flowerpot dresses, as vases or simply as decorative objects because they have so much charm even when they stand alone. 

    Can they be used outdoors?

    The pots we sell can easily be used outside, but they are not frost-proof, so we recommend bringing them inside during the winter so they can last for many years. 

    We have created a guide on how to care for and maintain your vintage products. There you can read about what we recommend in relation to the different old French jars. 

    Why are French pots so expensive?

    French vintage jars are handmade originals with a history, not mass-produced replicas.

    They were crafted in small potteries in southern France, often during the 19th and 20th centuries, and each jar is unique in shape, glaze, and patina.

    The traditional glazes and materials provide a durability and depth that modern production cannot replicate, and the patina develops naturally over time through use and exposure to the sun.

    Authenticity, rarity, and craftsmanship are therefore the reasons why the price is higher than that of new jars.