JARS

Use beautiful old South of France jars in your interior design.
From traditional confit pots to beautiful glazed jars.

WHY CHOOSE FRENCH VINTAGE PRODUCTS

  • AUTHENTICITY

    Old French products have soul and history.

    A rich cultural heritage means that every product carries a proud tradition, which provides 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 create not only functionality, but also a very special ambiance at the table, in the bistro, and in the home. They invite a sense of coziness, elegance, and presence, where every detail contributes to an inviting atmosphere.

FRENCH JARS – FROM CONFIT POTS TO CLASSIC STORAGE JARS

French jars exude rustic charm while maintaining a functional design. Our range spans from the beautiful classic confit pots, which for centuries have been used for storing duck fat and foodstuffs, to elegant and decorative glazed jars.

At Fransk Brocante, all of our jars originate from France, especially our confit pots from the Gascony region, where the glaze often has darker yellow hues and sometimes a slightly greenish tint.

    Discover our handpicked selection of French jars, old terracotta pots, and antique flower pots – perfect for both indoors and outdoors.

    See our selection of French jars. 

    Antikke franske confitkrukker i terracotta

    CONFIT JARS – POT À GRAISSE

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

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

    The jars are characterized by being glazed on the inside and the upper part of the exterior, partly to make them easy to clean, but also to allow the clay to breathe on the lower part. The glaze is either yellow, green, or honey-colored.

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

     

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    Novia Lyon krukke med stempel i bunden

    POPULARITY & APPLICATION

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

    Each jar is handmade and has its own character, often with beautiful patina, traces of use, variations in the glaze, cracks developed over time, etc. – they naturally tell a story of many years of life in French country kitchens. Authenticity and uniqueness that you cannot buy with new products.

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

    Collectors of confit pots and jam jars, in particular, look for original glazes and patina – and for some, original labels.

    It is often the case that the older the jars are, the more beautiful they are due to their authentic patina.

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    Gammel fransk krukke med grøn glasur

    PRICES

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

    Below is based on clay and confit pots.

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

    In France, small confit pots (under 15 cm) cost more than large ones – simply for the reason that they are very hard to come by and the selection is smaller. Their size meant that they were more easily broken and subsequently discarded.

    The most sought-after old French confit pots are those that have many years behind them (17th and 18th century) and have an unusual color or glaze. 

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    French vintage jars

    FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT JARS AND CONFIT JARS

    Krukke

    Which types of French pots does Fransk Brocante sell?

    Our assortment features two types of French jars. 

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

    In addition, we also have faience jars from 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 for storing and serving dry goods, flowers, or simply as decorative items. The period for these jars is the 19th century to the mid-20th century. 

    How can you determine the age of a confit pot?

    Most early confit pots, dating all the way back to the 18th and 19th centuries, are typically characterized by being asymmetrical and hand-thrown. Consequently, there are irregularities in their shape and thickness, and they are usually also shorter and rounder.

    The glaze on the oldest pots is often transparent green, light mustard yellow, or honey-colored, and is very uneven, with visible drips and runs. From the mid-19th century onwards, the glaze becomes more uniform and only covers the upper part of the pot.

    And the newest pots from the 20th century 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 unavoidable when many of the jars are antique. The natural patina develops over time and also helps make the jars unique and sought after.

    Some jars will have small chips and cracks, and this is often not considered a flaw, but part of the jar's authenticity. Cracks that do not go all the way through rarely affect appearance or function. As these are collector's items, there will also be jars that have been glued over time - often this does not change the function.

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

    What do you use French confit pots for now?

    French jars are used today for kitchen utensils, as plant pots, as vases, or simply as decorative items, because they have so much charm, even when standing alone. 

    Can they be used outdoors?

    The pots we sell can certainly be used outdoors, 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 our recommendations regarding the various old French pots.

    Why are French pots so expensive?

    French vintage pots are handmade originals with a history, not mass-produced copies.

    They are created in small potteries in the South of France, often between the 19th and 20th centuries, and each pot is unique in shape, glaze, and patina.

    The old glazes and materials provide a durability and depth that modern production cannot replicate, and the patina comes naturally through time, use, and sun.

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