19th-century French copper & wrought iron lavender still

This 19th-century copper and wrought iron lavender still is a beautifully crafted apparatus used for distilling essential oils. Lavender has a long history in Provence, France, where it has been cultivated for centuries for its fragrant flowers and therapeutic oils. The process of distillation involves steaming the lavender flowers, capturing the essential oils, and then condensing the vapor back into liquid form.

The brass label on the side of the still reads: "DELAFOND ET BERTHOUD CONSTRUCTEURS BELLEVILLE S/ RHONE"

This still stands as a testament to the traditional methods used in Provence to produce high-quality lavender oil, cherished for its calming and healing properties.

"Delafond et Berthoud" was a French company known for its precision engineering, particularly in the production of distillation equipment and other scientific apparatus. Based in Belleville-sur-Rhône, this company was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They specialized in creating high-quality stills for distilling essential oils, including lavender, which was a significant industry in Provence.