History
The following article was not written for this site. Yikes! The original was here: http://www.youpickedawinner.com/desco_hist.html but that site seems to have gone away. I (Kevin) don’t mean to trample on anyone’s copyrights… but it would be a shame if this info (from a very well written piece) disappeared entirely. So, it’s informative and falls under fair use.
. . .
Descoware was the signature cookware of Julia Child and was featured regularly on her cooking show during the 1960′s. She praised it highly for its quality and durability.
Descoware originally was known as Bruxelles Ware at its inception. Manufactured in Oudenaarde, Belgium, it was imported into the United States through the Ufinindo International Corporation of New York beginning in the mid-1940′s (see label below). By the early 1950′s, the D.E. Sanford Company (D.E.S.Co.) had been established here in the U.S. with branches in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Thus the name Descoware was born.
The gradient red to orange “Flame” pattern was their trademark and soon Descoware became well known as the creme de la creme of cookware. It seemed you could find a piece in almost every home, whether it was a skillet or Dutch Oven or covered casserole.
By the mid-1950′s, the D.E. Sanford Company had changed its name to the Descoware Corporation, headquartering itself in Los Angeles, and by the mid-1960′s Descoware had become a subsidiary of General Housewares Corporation, also of Los Angeles (yes, the same GHC of Magnalite fame … as well as Wagner Cast Iron, which by this time included the Griswold trademarks as well).
Eventually, increasing business costs and competition from other manufacturers forced GHC to discontinue the importing of wares manufactured in Belgium. By the late 1960′s, GHC had already begun to expand the Descoware line to include heavy gauge steel enamelware accessory items manufactured in Japan. By the mid-1970′s, further loss of market share to Le Creuset (who had begun a very aggressive marketing campaign) and other French cookware manufacturers such as Cousances and Staub (another French culinary mainstay), combined with cheaper labor costs and raw materials readily available in Asia, led GHC to shift manufacture of its enameled cast iron line to Japan as well; however, this was short-lived, as the American market was not overly receptive to the new product (known as Finesse), even though it started offering the designer colors so craved by the buying public. The first Finesse products were made in Belgium, then later production moved to Japan.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Le Creuset’s aggressive marketing campaign eventually won out. Despite the long-time endorsement of top chefs such as Julia Child who rated Descoware ahead of Le Creuset for its functionality, the fashion-conscious of America were hungry for more color variety and “trendy” designer looks.
By the late 1970′s, GHC, now struggling with profitability due to increased competition with it’s Magnalite Aluminum and Wagner Cast Iron lines, restructured itself and re-focused its energies back on the former two trademarks, which continued to be manufactured in Sidney, OH. GHC divested itself of the Descoware trademark and sold off the rights and formulas for the patented Descoware enamels to Le Creuset. It also discontinued the Finesse line.
In addition to gifting the world with the beautiful “flame” design, Descoware also developed and patented the super hard, grey “Glissemaille” coating which makes so many of its pieces stand out not only for durability, but for their simple beauty.
After acquiring the patents, Le Creuset continued to use the Glissemaille for several years, only recently discontinuing it. Le Creuset also used the Descoware version of the flame coloration with grey interior for a while; however, this was also relatively short lived. If you look at Le Creuset’s current version of “flame” you will notice that the color is much more fluorescent looking, almost like posterboard.
More about Descoware colors
Originally, the colors available were the Red/Orange “Flame” (gradient), as well as a beautiful Sunny Yellow (solid). As time progressed, other colors that were released were Antique Gold (solid), Avocado Green (solid), Marigold Yellow (gradient), Sky Blue (gradient), Chocolate Brown (solid), and a very short run of Turquoise (solid) which was released under the Descoware Special line. (Some of the above colors were also released under the Descoware Special line…the Descoware Special line was so-named because it related to pan sizes and set combinations.) In the mid-1950′s the “Maple Leaf” pattern was released, which depicted a plucked stem of Red Maple Tree leaves beginning to change into fall color, imposed onto a cream colored background. Als in the mid-1950′s, other patterned series’ known as Descorama were released. The most popular and widely recognized Descorama pattern is the Markley series, which features a yellow background with a whimsical pattern of food items and cookware pieces painted on it and signed by the artist (Markley). Other designs in the Descorama series were Cream colored with Vegetables, Yellow with Vegetables, Cream with Mock Tulips, Blue with Mock Tulips and Yellow with Mock Tulips. (The latter two patterns are sometimes confused with DRU pieces from Holland, as they look strikingly similar.)
NOTE: In addition to the above colors/patterns being released under license of the Descoware name, the following colors of enameled cast iron wares were also manufactured at the Oudenaarde foundry, marketed independently or under contract to other brands: Moss Green (solid color, unmarked), Jadeite green (solid color, unmarked) and Cornflower Blue (solid color, unmarked).
Has anyone heard of a descoware teakettle from Belgium with a maple leaf design? I have one, but I can”t find a picture or any mention of one.
Mrs. Reed! Send me a picture: info@descoware.com Thanks
Lucky me! I just found a (FE
2.5 roaster and lid for $10 and a (FE 7) casserole dish for $4 in beautiful condition. I found them at a thrift shop. I guess another man’s junk is another’s treasure. I have several size pots and pans that I have found that way! I use them ALL the time. Julia Child was a very smart woman!
I’m a real new comer to this type of cookware. I live near Christchurch New Zealand and found a brown cast iron sauce pan (M/80-D 20) in a garage sale. I have since found out it is Descoware by the E and back to front F on it.
Can anyone tell me what all the numbers mean?
Thanks
The numbers are sizes and capacity: Centiliters and Centimeters
[...] cast iron, enameled Le Creuset skillet from them. The other week I scored a lovely yellow enamel Descoware pan for $25. (Descoware, popularized by Julia Child, was made until the late seventies, when it was [...]
I used to work for Descoware Corp. and D. E Sanford in Los Angeles in the late sixties and let me tell you, what a joy it was. The people there, including all the other manufacturers’ reps, were so good at what they did and were so kind. I had just about every piece of Descoware that was ever made and in all the different colors. I still have quite a few pieces and have no intention of parting with them. Started out with the Flame and the Yellow. They eventually made other colors. Their chief competitor was Le Crueset. D. E. Sanford was the manufacturer rep for KitchenAid, among others. What deals we got at that time! I wish I had invested in some of the better KitchenAid products that were made at the time. I am sure they would still be good.
Hi Karen! I would love to hear more about your time at Descoware. You are Nancy’s mother, maybe?
since you worked there I ask: do you remember anything made in pink?
i have a pink dutch oven not marked but the same one was on RubyLane & the seller is sure it’s Descoware. She called the color Dusty Rose. I can’t find mention of this color anywhere or a similar oven made by anyone. any thoughts?
thanks for your contribution! dom
I have been absolutely fascinated with induction cooking for over 10 years, but I am not certain if LeCreuset or Descoware or Cousance can be used. Can someone please help me with this before I purchase more of these items? I know that cast iron is acceptable, but I don’t know if all of these three brands basis is cast iron.
A pal encoraged me to check out this site, brill post, fanstatic read… keep up the cool work!
My great grandparents lived in Belgium and had many children including my grandmother. I am of the second generation born in America.
Amazingly, I do not recall any of my many aunts nor my mother cooking in bright orange/red or yellow colored cookware.
While shopping on EBAY for affordable recycled Le Creuset, I discovered Descoware. I was quite amazed when I realized that Descoware was made in Belgium and used by Julia Child during many of her episodes of The French Chef.
One of my favorites pieces of Descoware is the three quart flame bean pot that sits upon Julia Child’s stove now within the Smithonian Institute.
Each time I cook in one of my Descoware pieces, I appreciate its fine quality and my Belgium heritage!
Horray for Descoware and Julia Child!!
I will say that I have been to Belgium only once, but I had some of the best food of my life there, actually even much better than much French food, with wonderful attention to detail and technique. So it is not a surprise that descoware was made in Belgium. I am beginning to think this is a country with an underappreciated culinary legacy. I am buying my first descoware, maybe I can recreate some yummy dishes from my time there.
At our beach house we have always had the “flame” Descoware round enameled cast iron pot and lid. My mother worked in the test kitchens of General Foods in the late 60′s and early 70′s, which is how she procured it (along with a Kitchen Aid still in use today). We all love cooking with it!
Coincidence, or not, while in Cape May NJ, this past week, we went to see Julie and Julia-and loved it! The following morning, I was rummaging through an antique store and found an oval casserole of unknown origin(to me), but because it was in decent shape and from Belgium, it picked it up for $8! When I arrived home from our vacation, I looked it up and found that this was Julia Child’s preferred cookware. Last night I made some delicious roasted veggies that cooked and browned beautifully in my new(old) cookware!