posted on 16 May 2011 | posted in Home and Garden
Antique French woodburners and stoves are often very decorative and beautiful items. Godin is one of the most celebrated makers, dating back to the 1840s. They were one of the first French foundries to mass produce the famous 'poele a bois' or woodburning stove, and the name Godin became famous throughout France for both cast iron heating and cooking stoves.
The founder Jean-Baptiste-Andre Godin, realised that the secret was to produce woodburners and stoves that have a high calorific output, that were robust, were well made and reliable. It is a testament to this philosophy that many antique Godin woodburners and stoves are still able to function today.
In addition, Jean-Baptiste-Andre Godin was an enlightened employer. He provided homes for the foundry workers and an infrastructure including shops and a theatre on the Godin factory site, and then finally signed over the ownership of the Godin factory to his employees. Godin woodburners, stoves and kitchen woodburning, gas and electric ranges are still produced in France to this day, and maintain the high standard of quality set by the founder Jean-Baptiste-Andre Godin.