If the extent of your knowledge of French cuisine is how to pronounce omelet du fromage in an unpleasant way thanks to that Dexter’s laboratory delivery, don’t worry. You don’t have to be able to cook like Julia Child to treat yourself to a vintage Le Creuset piece. Why spend hundreds on the new stuff when you can cook like the greats with iconic vintage Le Creuset cookware?
Le Creuset is the esthete’s favorite cookware line with its sturdy construction and beautiful color palette. The French company has been selling its famous cast iron enamel cookware since 1924. And it’s bigger today than ever before.
But what about the classic Le Creuset pieces — the ones that slipped through the cracks when Pyrex and Tupperware dominated your grandparents’ kitchen cabinets? Thanks to Le Creuset’s newfound popularity in pop culture, they have experienced quite a blessing. Make sure you pay top dollar for the right pieces by knowing what features to look for.
Look for loop handles
Before the round handles that Le Creuset has today, the company’s lids had loop handles. These are handles that you can pinch between your thumb and index finger or hook a finger through to pick them up and move them. In the later 20e century you start to see the bud tops.
Spy the wooden handles
In true mid-century fashion, vintage Le Creuset from the 1950s and 1970s usually had wooden handles. Saucepans, fondue pots, skillets, and more had warm wooden handles that matched the mid-century “we can always use more wood” style.
Check for ribbed bottoms
If you look at the bottoms of vintage Le Creuset cookware, you may notice ridges. These ridges were common for decades. They are not as common these days, so if you find a ribbed piece with these other characteristics, chances are you have an authentic vintage.
Related: 7 Vintage Dishes Worth Money You Could Have in Your Kitchen
You can authenticate vintage Le Creuset pieces in much the same way you do today. You want to see if these three main characteristics are present:
The name Le Creuset is at the bottom
It is standard for the company to engrave their name on the bottom of their pieces. You should find the full name spelled in a single-level font, without serifs.
The country of origin is at the bottom
Le Creuset is manufactured in France, and so all genuine Le Creuset pieces must have ‘France’ or ‘Made in France’ engraved in the same font and style (although smaller) as the company name. It should also be at the bottom of most pieces.
There is a two-digit number present
Another engraved element you can find on genuine Le Creuset cookware is two-digit numbers. These numbers refer to the diameter of the item. For example, if you find a 16 engraved in the bottom and lid, the pot has a diameter of 16 cm.
Sometimes you can find these numbers in the shape of a diamond, but if you don’t find a diamond, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s not a real Le Creuset.
Because Le Creuset is a French company, their numerical measurements always refer to the metric system. So calculate the sizes in centimeters, not inches.
One of Le Creuset’s genius marketing tactics is its limited color palette. They regularly release special limited edition collections and remove colors or patterns from the archive. If you’re looking for vintage Le Creuset pieces, you’ll find many in old colors like these.
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Dijon yellow
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Elysees yellow
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Emerald green
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Fennel green
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Fig
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Indigo
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Persimmon
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Provence
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Soleil yellow
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Deep blue-green
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Ganache
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Kiwi
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Lime green
A vintage color that you can still find today is ‘flame’, an orange-red color at sunset. It was the company’s first color and remains a staple of their current catalog.
Related: Why Vintage Melmac Dishes Are Mid-Century Classics
Casual Le Creuset fans are more familiar with pieces based on their functions than with the designed series in general. However, there are two vintage series that are particularly worth knowing about.
Raymond Loewy’s “Coquelles”
Raymond Loewy was a famous mid-century designer who received several awards, including a series of dishes for Le Creuset, including the famous Coquelle. At first glance they don’t look or feel like they came from Le Creuset. They are very atomic in style (geometric lines that play with proportions and split color schemes) and are a hot commodity on the resale market.
Enzo Mari’s ‘Mama’
In the 1970s, Italian designer Enzo Mari redesigned the cocotte. The most recognizable feature? The new handles. These handles are flat at the top and slope down to a curved edge that is perfect for gripping with your fingers. This “Mama” series is also one of the most valuable vintage series you can find on the auction block.
Le Creuset’s Heritage collection releases modern pieces in archival designs. Although they look vintage, they feature modern packaging and bright, clean enamel.
Le Creuset is not cheap cookware on a good day. Of course, vintage Le Creuset wouldn’t be cheap either. The values of vintage pieces depend greatly on their condition, size, series and color. At the low end, vintage Le Creuset pieces can sell for $40-$50, while sets at the higher end can go for $1,000+.
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Vintage Le Creuset |
Recent sales prices |
|---|---|
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Marbled gray cocotte from the thirties |
$135.98 |
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Chocolate brown 5-piece collection from the 60s |
$800 |
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2-piece set by Joan Didion |
$2,500 |
For example, a five-piece chocolate brown collection from the 1960s sold for $800, while a rare marbled gray cocotte from the 1930s sold for $135.98. You would think that the older piece would sell more because of its age. But the larger set and more attractive color are better selling points.
Another thing to consider is who owned the vintage Le Creuset pieces. If pieces have a strong provenance and once belonged to a famous person, they can go for a lot. For example, a two-piece set from Joan Didion’s collection sold for $2,500, despite significant wear.
Vintage cookware from Le Creuset is stylish, functional and will help you up your culinary game. Embrace the ratatouille of it all and look for the pieces that speak to your talents. Do you like a dive? Invest in a good vintage fondue pot. Either way, the dishes you make will have your guests saying La Petite Chaise, who?
