A substantial antique French copper oval roasting pan -- known in French as a braisiere or poissonniere depending on its use -- with a fitted copper lid and cast brass handles throughout. Oval copper vessels of this form were a cornerstone of the professional French kitchen from the mid-nineteenth century onward, used in bourgeois households and restaurant brigades alike for long braises, whole roasts and court-bouillons. The exterior copper has been polished to a warm, glowing tone, while the brass side handles and the riveted bridge handle on the lid carry an aged golden patina that speaks to genuine use over many decades.
The lid fits snugly and is stamped with the size number 30, a classic French trade marking indicating the pan's nominal length -- a detail that points to professional or high-end domestic manufacture. The rounded rectangular form with softly chamfered corners is both handsome and practical, and the piece displays the satisfying weight and wall thickness of old-stock copper work. Displayed on a kitchen shelf, a farmhouse dresser or an open rack, it reads as a confident, quietly warm accent. The interior retains its original tin lining, now well darkened with age.
Condition and patina consistent with age. The interior tin lining shows heavy darkening, oxidation and light surface wear consistent with long culinary use; the exterior copper and brass hardware are structurally sound with no dents of concern.
Measurements are approx. 11.8 in long x 7.1 in wide x 6.5 in high (30 x 18 x 16.5 cm), with a copper wall thickness of approx. 0.6 in (1.5 mm). Weight of the body alone (without lid or handles) is 3.9 kg.
