Antique French Copper Jam Pot, Preserving Pan with Brass Handles

Here we offer this gorgeous antique copper jam pot (also referred to as a preserving pan or confectioner's basin), made in France for making fruit, jellies, and marmalades. This pan features a substantial solid copper body paired with heavy cast brass handles. The handles are permanently attached to the main wall using thick, heavy-duty rivets. It has a 9 1/2 inch diameter but it’s overall length measures 12 1/2 inches. The pan measures 2 3/8 inches deep, not including the handles.

Classic jam pans like this one are left deliberately unlined (without tin or stainless steel coatings). The bare copper surface naturally interacts with the fruit acids and high sugar concentration, helping the mixture thicken more efficiently and preserve the vibrant color of the fruit. The pan shows a rich, authentic aged patina inside and out, though the exterior is much more shiny as it looks like the past owner polished it from time to time. The interior floor shows variations of deep orange, red-brown heat scaling, and minor green verdigris (copper carbonate buildup) along the lower interior seam. If you intend to use this piece for cooking, the green verdigris must be completely cleaned out using a mild abrasive paste of coarse salt and vinegar or lemon juice, as loose oxidation can affect food flavor. Alternatively, it can be left as-is if kept purely for rustic kitchen decor. It looks great hung on a wall by itself or displayed among other kitchen decor!