French Country Gifts: 15 Antique and Vintage Ideas That Travel Well

French country gifts for the cook and the host

Kitchen and table pieces are used at once and are rarely the wrong size. More small pieces are on our French country accents page.

1. A small tinned copper pan. A 6 in (16 cm) saucepan weighs about 2–3 lb (1–1.4 kg); check the lining as our copper cookware guide explains. Budget: moderate.
2. A French confit pot. A glazed pot 8–10 in (20–25 cm) tall holds utensils or flowers and weighs 6–9 lb (3–4 kg) packed; look for hairlines in confit pots from the Southwest. Budget: moderate.
3. A wooden bread board. A round board 12–14 in (30–36 cm) across weighs 2–3 lb (1–1.4 kg) and is close to unbreakable. Budget: modest.
4. Linen tea towels. Three or four old towels, monogrammed or striped, fold to the size of a book and weigh under 1 lb (0.5 kg); see old linens and cushions. Budget: modest.
5. Silver-plated dessert spoons. Six spoons weigh about 9 oz (250 g) and travel flat in a pouch; read the marks with our page on silver-plated flatware. Budget: modest to moderate.
6. A pair of brass candlesticks. At 8–10 in (20–25 cm) tall, a pair weighs 2–4 lb (1–2 kg); clean them as described in antique brass and bronze, without polishing away the patina. Budget: moderate.
7. A pressed-glass or faience pitcher. A 1 qt (1 L) pitcher serves water, wine or flowers; it needs a double box. Budget: modest to moderate.
8. Six bistro wine glasses. They fit a 12 in (30 cm) box with card dividers. Budget: modest.

Gifts for the collector and the gardener

9. A small piece of opaline glass. A box or vase 4–6 in (10–15 cm) tall weighs under 1 lb (0.5 kg). Budget: moderate.
10. A framed engraving or botanical print. Under 16 by 20 in (41 by 51 cm), it ships flat. Budget: moderate.
11. A faience or oyster plate. One plate of 9–10 in (23–25 cm) hangs with a spring hanger. Budget: modest to moderate.
12. A small oval mirror. Under 20 in (51 cm), it is the largest fragile gift worth posting. Budget: generous.
13. A zinc watering can. A 5 L (1.3 gal) can weighs about 2–3 lb (1–1.4 kg). Budget: modest to moderate.
14. Three terracotta pots. Pots of 4–6 in (10–15 cm) nest inside each other. Budget: modest.
15. A glass flower frog. At 2–4 in (5–10 cm) across, it holds stems in any bowl; our note on how flower frogs work shows how. Budget: modest.

What to check on a vintage gift, and the note that goes with it

A gift should arrive ready to use or clearly decorative. Check copper for an intact tin lining, ceramics and glass for chips and hairlines, flatware for plating worn through on spoon bowls, linens for holes at the folds. A pan with a worn lining is still a fine gift for the wall, if the note says so.

Put a short note in the box: what the object is, its French name, the region when known, the decade if the seller can support it, any mark, and its care. Write 'style' or 'undated' where certainty is missing; a style name describes an inspiration, not a documented attribution. Keep the original listing with the note.

Packing fragile pieces for the post

Wrap each piece in tissue, then two layers of bubble wrap, and fill hollow forms with crumpled paper so the walls are supported from inside. Place it in a snug inner box, then set that box in a larger one with 2 in (5 cm) of cushioning on every side. Mirrors and framed prints need card over the glass and corner guards. Nothing should move when you shake the box. For holiday delivery, allow time for transit and customs if the parcel crosses a border.