Many of the pots and pans made in 19th century France, were inscribed with numbers and initials to identify ownership, size and use. Often, when the pots were sent for cleaning or resurfacing, the tinsmith would inscribe the owners family name into the pot when they were dropped off.

Sometimes you see several initials stamped into the side of the pot, which can indicate the various families they belonged to throughout the generations.

Numbers were also inscribed onto the handles, often to tell the different pots apart from one another in a busy working kitchen.

One can only imagine the food this pot has held and the places it has been.