Le Creuset and a century of orange cast iron
Le Creuset was founded in 1925 in Fresnoy-le-Grand, a town in northern France, by two Belgian industrialists, Armand Desaegher, who specialized in casting, and Octave Aubecq, who specialized in enameling.
Their first product was an enameled cast-iron cocotte, or Dutch oven, in a bright orange they called Volcanic, inspired by the color of molten iron.
How it is made
The cookware is still cast at the foundry in Fresnoy-le-Grand. Each piece is made in a sand mold that is destroyed after use, then finished by hand and coated in layers of enamel. The process lets the pots hold and spread heat evenly and makes them heavy and long-lasting.
Building a brand
Le Creuset added colors over the decades and moved into stoneware, stainless steel and accessories. Its pots became wedding registry staples and kitchen status symbols in many countries.
Since 1988 the company has been owned by South African businessman Paul van Zuydam.
Collecting
Limited-edition colors and collaborations sell out quickly, and some fans collect the brand the way others collect sneakers. Vintage pieces turn up at estate sales and are often still in good condition after decades, which is part of the brand’s appeal.
