This is a fan site for Descoware–a brand of enamel cookware made until the mid-seventies. The enamelware was originally manufactured as “Bruxelles Ware” with the Descoware name coming from the American import company D.E Sanford Co. The brand was popularized by the wonderful Julia Child, who was kind enough to recommend products without endorsement fees. All are welcome and if you have an interest in Descoware– toss your two cents in. Your email stays safe, no spam here. Please be kind and enjoy your stay. The “Author” has no commercial interest except his own small collection. There are some ads on the site and most years those ads pay for the hosting and nothing more.
Please email pictures if you have some! info-at- descoware.com and YES pictures with food in the piece is good!
The buttons on the right (and top) will move you around the site. Mostly words at the top–pictures on the right.
Your moderator is Kevin, an artist, writer and tinker in Oregon. His Descoware story is here.
Oh awesome! I was just about to return it
Thank you!
Hi, Sarah. I can assure you that the piece you bought was indeed Descoware.
Hello all!
I believe I stumbled onto a Descoware piece at Goodwill, but I’m not quite sure. I have been unable to find much information (other than this site) on the brand other than Julia Child highly endorsed the brand.
The piece I have if Descoware is in the flame color. But the bottom of the pot and lid say 2D 8 L FE Belgium. Is it not real? Does this mean I can go return it and get my $15 back!?
Any information will help, if you want pictures please just email me at sarah.garner at ymail dot com
It looks exactly like Descoware, I just would like someone who has true Descoware to yay or nay it.
Thank you all!!!
Hey, friends!
I was so happy to come across this site. I’ve been a collector of Descoware for several years, ever since I bought my first home. I love the cookware, its durability, even cooking characteristic and attractive design. I have dozens of pieces that include the flame colored, avocado, harvest gold, Markley, and also fun items like the ASHTRAYS and TRIVETS!
Thanks for the site!
Hi Kevin,
7 years ago a woman I took care of passed away and her family gave me an old forgotten Descoware piece that was going to be sold at a garage sale. I didn’t know anything about Descoware, nor have I heard of it. I cleaned the Flame Orange round casserole dish with lid (with the 3 separate compartments inside) and saw how beautiful it looked cleaned up and polished. I went on eBay and found other great pieces and within a year I had acquired a small collection of Dutch ovens, baking dishes, pots and pans. Different colors and sizes. Roughly 30 pieces.
They look great hanging from a hook in the kitchen and they look great on the table. My 3 prized pieces are a yellow Markley Dutch oven, a large oval cream colored pot with vegetables, and a sky blue oval pot with dark blue tulip leaves.
I recently gave my sister 2 pieces: a large beautiful avocado green baking dish and a frying pan (flame orange) with a long wooden handle screwed in. I knew she would take good care of them and appreciate them. She was visiting my home and she used my large “vegetable” pot to make a batch of homemade jalapeno jelly. Delicious.
Thanks for this website. It is good to know that others appreciate the high quality, uniqueness, durability, and looks of Descoware.
Ambrose Smith
Coachella, California
Hey Rob. Yeah, it’s likely that you got a mix and match. It was common practice for the European makers to mark pieces with the sizes (that’s what the numbered markings are). Since Descoware was an American only import, it’s a small possibility that yours came from the same foundry… but really, it’s probably more likely that the pieces came from a different shop. One of the nice things about DescoWare is that it’s really pretty cheap. As long as your pieces look like they match… who the heck cares!
Hey Kevin, I know almost nothing about Descowear and have recently purchased a small dutch oven at a garage sale that holds about 1 quart. It is clearly stamped “Descoware Made in Belgium” on the bottom. Along with this pot there was a 5 quart dutch oven and a skillet that measures about 9 1/” in diameter and comes with a removable wood handle. The two larger pieces do not have the stamp indicating that it is Belgiumware, however, indented in the bottoms of all three pans is the word “Belgium” and similar looking model numbers. There are other small differences in the small dutch oven and the other two pieces. For instance the small one has a white interior and the other two have gray interiors. Do you know if Descoware did not stamp there name on some of their pieces? Are these two Descowear or something else. Thank you for your help, Rob
It’s as safe as it’s ever been. Under the enamel, it’s just regular old cast iron. Chipping is very common–the enamel glazes do what’s called “crazing,” which is small cracks. Eventually they become bigger cracks. I haven’t been able to find anyone who repairs enamel cookware. Anyone with a ceramic kiln should be able to do it pretty easily.
Does anyone know whether, how, and by whom cracked and chipped porcelain enamel on the inside (bottom) of a Descoware dutch oven can be repaired?
Thanks!
John Weber
The cast iron that may show through on the descoware should be safe to cook on.
Minor cracking and crazing is not a problem for cooking, but do take special care
when you clean it not to make it worse. If there is cast iron areas showing through
use shortening and season the areas so that it won’t rust.
I always dry my descoware in the oven or for about 5 minutes atop the range on low.
I am in need of an oval lid for the 4 1/2 quart oval flame orange dutch oven. It has a
handle, not a knob top. If anyone has a replacement for that piece, please email me!
Thanks!
I check all over daily online!
sugarx2@rocketmail.com ok to list this email!
The ovals don’t fit the burners too well, but… you won’t hurt them.
I have what I would caLL an oval roaster with lid in flame.
Is it stovetop safe, or just oven safe?
Thanks,
Arthur
Okay, I’m back….about the yellow, oval roaster question:
Duh! The lettering on the lid is not raised, it’s stamped (which you all probably knew)
Liz
Kevin,
I have a yellow oval roaster with a lid that used to be my grandmother’s. It has the black signature:
Descoware, Made in Belgium, on the bottom of the roaster. The inside is gray. On the underside of the lid, it has raised writing that says: FE 12 C-3
It is in great shape, and I use it regularly. I would truly appreciate it if you could give me any other information about this piece and the marking C-3.
Thanks for the website,
Liz
Dear Kevin,
Great website! I have to admit, I hadn’t heard about Descoware – but I was looking up the markings on two beautiful flame dutch ovens (oval) that my mother-in-law gave me. She received them for a wedding gift (1960s) and used them while raising her family… Both lids and pots have the “coded” stamps – though they aren’t marked “Descoware”… For example the large lid is marked FE 3F 18 BELGIUM, and the pot is harder to read but I can make out the FE BELGIUM and a 3… and the small lid is marked FE 12 3-C BELGIUM and the pot has the same code: 3-C 12 FE BELGIUM…. they look like Descoware (I have pictures but not sure where to post them) – is it possible the Descoware marking rubbed off? Or might they be another brand? Thanks so much!
Best wishes,
Jillian
Hi Jillian!
I have the exact same markings on my set that were passed down to me from my Mother. It is DEFINITELY DESCOWARE. Although my lid does not have the descoware imprint, the bottom of the pot does. DESCOWARE appears centered in the space between the E and the FE as an ink-type logo. I’m sure yours has just worn off after many good years of use!
Congratulations on owning such a nice dish!
Terry
The stampings were just industry practices and there are lots of pieces made by other manufacturers. Descoware lids usually don’t have a logo, but the main piece almost invariably does (have a logo).
Hello Kevin,
I purchased a blue Descoware 9-1/2″ covered skillet at a thrift store today and the inside of the skillet is completely black and looks like straight cast iron without any enamel. There was even a little rust on the inside which leads me to believe it is straight cast iron and not a serious build-up of some kind. The outside condition is pretty good and it does not look like it has been abused. I have never seen a piece of Descoware like this, they are all enameled on the inside. Have you ever seen or heard of any Descoware like this? The markings on the bottom of the skillet are: Descoware MADE IN BELGIUM 23-B 24 0 FE BELGIUM. And the markings on the lid are: FE 24 BELGIUM.
I would appreciate any information you can give me on this.
Thank you,
Becky
I’ve seen a couple of modifications to the blue pieces. I have a blue fry pan that is teflon coated… but I’m pretty sure that teflon didn’t exist when DescoWare was being made. I imagine that in some cases, people removed the interior enamel coating as the interior of piece became damaged. Descoware is just basic cast iron underneath.
I have been collecting Descoware this past year. I have almost a complete set. I really love cooking with it all. I am looking for a 12 inch skillet with lid.
I have seen Descolite, and of course the very weighty LE Creuset. I like the Descoware best of all in the FLAME.
Candy
HI.
I BOUGHT TWO PIECES TODAY FROM A THRIFT STORE. BOTH HAVE NO HANDLES. BOTH ARE RED FADE TO ORANGE IN COLOUR.
THE SAUSEPAN HAS 80-C 18 F / F.E. BELGUIM STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM
THE SMALL PAN HAS ONLY F.E 18 AND TWO DOTS STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM
I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE HANDLES. CAN YOU ADVISE WHERE TO LOOK? PLEASE ADVISE.
THANK YOU.
TRUDI FROM CALIFORNIA
Approximately 20 years ago my wife picked up a Descoware saucepan w/lid (yellow)at a yard sale. That set the ‘tone’ for future cookware purchases which ultimately led us to Le Creuset.
The saucepan had a very marginal handle, which may have already been replaced at one time. I replaced the handle with one of my own design (for lack of an original to copy) made of black locust. Good, bad or indifferent, this handle has served us well, including many, many trips through the dishwasher. Hey, it’s my saucepan and I’m not into washing dishes by hand if I can help it. However, the locust has decided to give it up after 20 years. (Says something about locust, doesn’t it?)
I plan to fabricate another handle (probably locust) if I can recreate the thread pattern. I had a template of sorts last time because I had what was left of the “original”. This time, the handle came out in pieces, so I’m having to try to figure out the thread properties (threads/inch, pitch, etc.) from inside a very worn saucepan.
Does anyone have a Descoware handle they can unscrew from the dish for the purpose of measuring the thread properties? (They look to be 8 threads/inch, but there’s also a taper??)
Help me if you can. It may save me a couple of hours in the shop and provide other potential handle makers with a guide from which to work.
Happy cooking (and woodworking, if you’re so inclined).
– Conley in Cottage Grove, OR
I have a Descoware Discovery Set Number 104 3 G still in the box that I will be selling for my 84 year old mom who could use the money. My dad gave it to her during the early 1960′s and she never used it. I will be listing it on Ebay tomorrow. I ran across your website while researching its current market value and thought you might be interested in it. I will be listing it tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by the Descoware site, Katie. Obviously, It’s just starting up and I really appreciate the offer of photos.
The blue stuff is definitely a little scarce on ebay, and I don’t recall ever seeing any blue with the labels. I’ve been ebaying the stuff for about 5 years and the prices have seemed to drift up this year. I think word might be getting around. The highest price I’ve seen for a single piece was just under $100.
I’ll be adding some info about replacement handles and possibly enamel repair services, so check back!
I just found a dutch oven…… larger than any I have ever seen…… ever. My grandmother had one. But never this large. I look on Ebay regularly and have for years. Would like info on what I just bought. Size? Could be 18 or more inches across.
Hi Kevin–I have recently fallen in love with Descoware. I am seriously considering purchasing a vintage, unused (except for one sauce pan) set in sky blue. It includes a dutch oven, 2 sauce pans (one with a little fry pan lid) and a 10-inch skillet. They still have the Descoware stickers on them. It is a little $$$, but I really love the blue and have hardly seen any of this color on ebay (present or past sales). Would love to get your feedback. Thanks.
BrooklynKatie
I have a yellow pot with the letters “2H, 16, A” molded into it: The lid also
has letters molded into it; they are “FE, 16, 2-H “. “BELGIUM” is molded
d into both pieces. How old could this set be? If anyone knows, please let
me know. I was told that it is extremely rare by antique dealer. What’s
the truth?
If information were soccer, this would be a goooooal!
Sorry Clint… I haven’t had any luck finding a “RE” enamel shop either. It seems like there is a lot of demand for re-use of old stuff and refinishing enamelware could be a great little business for someone.
There were actually dozens of small sand cast foundries that used differing recipes of enamel coatings. FE means iron, not Founderie Emaillerie.
Neither, really. The stamped ones are older, but the molded ones are fewer. Both kinds have their fans–and in proportional numbers.
I still don’t have a source for re-enamling a pan. You would think in our ‘turning green’ culture that someone would be interested in recycling these very useful items.
It is just cast iron underneath. As long as the enamel is not coming off into your food…