Saturday, September 3, 2011

Vintage Le Creuset Bean Pot!

On one of my road trips to the Okanagan this summer, I made a great find at a local thrift store. We checked into the hotel and I threw open the drapes to look out the window. Believe it or not there was a huge sign painted on the side of a neighbouring building that read: "Thrift Store - Next Right"!


Of course I skipped over there shortly after putting down the luggage, and reached the store about ten minutes before closing. This was one of those sad little thrift stores, with intimidating-looking people hanging around outside, and awful furniture everywhere inside. I had low expectations, until I caught a glimpse of that flame coloured cast iron I love so much.


I went closer and saw that it was a well-loved bean pot. At first I couldn't believe I'd find a classic Le Creuset piece in a random thrift store. I thought to myself, "This must be a Descoware!" and "It's probably unmarked!".

Then I turned the lid over and ...


... saw a sight for sore eyes! A hard to find bean pot, marked Le Creuset, and priced at $5! Le Creuset currently offers a stoneware version, but I believe it's quite rare to find the vintage cast iron versions. I have seen these sell on ebay for between $100-$200. Yeowch!


The lid does have a couple chips on it and there is crazing on the interior enamel, but this is just such a beautiful little pot. The colour gradient is just beautiful.


It just goes to show you - you really never do know what you'll find in a small town thrift store! This little treasure was located on the lower shelf in the last corner of the store that I looked.  =)

I am linking up to Sophie's Her Library Adventures!

15 comments:

  1. That is so cute! Will you be making beans in it?

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  2. Le Creuset is the best and the color of the pot is wonderful.You did well thrift shopping ((:

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  3. arrgghhhh.
    lucky woman!
    now to cook...
    n♥

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  4. The colour and shape of your little pot is stunning

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  5. Great find! I've seen those things for $50 and up at swap meets occasionally.

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  6. Thanks everyone! I love the cute little size and shape of the pot. Not sure if I will cook up some beans though, the inside enamel is quite crazed. Might just try a small batch of chickpeas...

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  7. It's a beauty!! Were these little pots created with a certain purpose in mind?

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  8. paulad, apparently the shape of these pots were suitable for cooking dried beans and prevent them from sticking to the pot. Other cast iron makers had bulbous shaped pots too!

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  9. I just saw the Descoware version of this bean pot in an antique mall for $89. I thought of you and your great find!

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  10. Wowsers! I actually have this sitting as a centrepiece on our living room coffee table. (I know, kinda weird). Maybe I should think about selling it...

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