I came across this Country French antique confit pot on one of my buying trips to Europe. I wanted to share it with you all by offering this confit pot as the item for our January giveaway. We are delighted to offer this iconic symbol of Country French style as our first giveaway through our blog for 2012.  We also wanted to mention that we merged our two blogs into one, so it will be easier to follow.  We love hearing your comments and questions and are delighted with the feedback we have been getting.

Of course, I have to impart a little history behind our selection for this month’s giveaway.  One of the most recognized symbols of classic Country French gourmet décor didn’t start out to be an element of aesthetic design.  For centuries the French used the brightly colored earthenware pots for daily storage of duck or goose confits.  “Confit de canard”, for instance, is a recipe utilizing the dark meat of the duck (leftover after making terrines de foie gras) by slowly cooking it until it is rendered tender, after which it was stored in cellars by burying the bottom part of the pot in the ground to keep it cold.  Duck confit was used in a variety of Country French cuisine, such as cassoulet (a hearty dish of confit and beans) and was the method of storing meat before the advent of refrigeration.

This beautiful earthenware confit pot shows the rich patina of natural aging and is glazed in a traditional warm mustard gold-colored glaze.  A century of use is evident in the crazing of the honey-hued pot.  Today, antique confit pots are used primarily in decorating, displayed on buffets, on the tops of armoires, as centerpieces for a kitchen counter or anywhere you want to add Country French charm and character to you décor.  This confit pot is truly an iconic antique symbol of Country French style.  Circa 1860. Retail Value: $375

 Giveaway Instructions:

To enter you must be a follower of this blog.   First enter your email address in the subscription box (pictured below) on the right hand side of our blog.  Then simply comment on this blog post and let as know how you would use an antique confit pot to decorate your home.

You can also visit our Facebook page and “ like us” for an additional entry.  The contest ends a week from today.

Good luck and thanks for entering!