Fire bowls, fire pits and a BBQ
Corten steel fire pits
Corten steel fire pits and fire tables.
Corten steel fire pits
Hélios · Vulcain
A Corten fire pit for long evenings on the terrace
Two fires, two moods
Our two Corten fire pits come alive in the evening, but they burn in different ways. Vesta is a wide, low Corten fire bowl for a wood fire, with crackling logs, a tall flame and lingering embers, between 600 and 1500 mm across; by day it stands in the garden as a sculpture in its own right. Nyx is a very low square Corten steel fire pit, with sides of 900 to 1500 mm and a height of just 250 to 350 mm: its central slot holds a bioethanol flame that runs close to the ground, without smoke or ash, and after dark the basin becomes a pool of light in the middle of the terrace. Choose wood for evenings spent around the embers, and bioethanol for an architectural line of light; our guide to fire pits and fire tables sets out the differences.
Heat, patina and upkeep
Once lit, both get hot, rim included: children and pets should stay clear until the metal is cool again, and logs are best handled with gloves. Vesta and Nyx leave our workshop already wearing the Cortenys signature patina, checked piece by piece and offered without varnish, like every fire piece in the collection; near the flame, the steel may take on a darker tone with use, which blends into the rest of the patina over time. Wait until Vesta is cold before taking out the ashes, never leave wet ash lying in the bowl, and top up Nyx with bioethanol only once its burner has cooled completely.
Where to set it down
Set the fire pit on stone, concrete or compacted gravel, ground that is stable and cannot burn, and note which way the prevailing wind blows smoke and sparks before you choose the spot. Nyx, at roughly 60 to 140 kg depending on its size (indicative weights), is a piece to place once and leave in position, and its low height lets it read as part of the paving around it. Neither fire pit is designed for cooking: to cook over a wood fire, the Vulcain BBQ, built around a cooking ring, is the piece to look at.
FAQ
Which of the two fire pits is more compact?
Vesta, from 600 mm across, takes up less room; Nyx starts at 900 mm a side and 250 mm high. Whichever you choose, leave room for a ring of seats and a clear passage around the fire, and respect the clearances given in its instructions.
Can a fire pit double as a table?
Not really: Vesta is an open bowl and Nyx a basin with a thin raised rim, and both are hot once lit. For a surface beside the flame, a fire table sets its hearth into a broad top with room for glasses and plates; see our fire tables.
Can a fire pit be lit under an awning?
Not beneath a low awning, a low canopy or in any enclosed space: an outdoor fire needs open air above it, with branches, parasols and façades kept well away. Keep water or an extinguisher within reach, and stay nearby while it burns. A fire pit is never for indoor use.
Corten steel fire pits / The models
Our selection of Corten steel fire pits
Discover pieces designed to live outdoors beautifully for years.
Fire bowls, fire pits and a BBQ
The spirit of the collection
Discover Hélios, Vesta and Héphaïstos, then compare their shape, fuel and installation requirements for your garden.
Corten steel fire pit or fire table: which to choose?Cortenys
Advice and design: Corten steel fire pits
01 / Advice
Corten steel fire pits
Corten steel fire pits and fire tables. Discover Hélios, Vesta and Héphaïstos, then compare their shape, fuel and installation requirements for your garden.
02 / Advice
Sizes and placement
Compare the footprint, height and weight listed on each product page. Leave room for use and maintenance. Bespoke dimensions need to be assessed before ordering.
03 / Advice
A natural patina
Weathering steel develops a warm patina that changes with exposure. Runoff may mark pale surfaces. A protective clear varnish is optional on selected models; even varnished, Corten steel can still leave rust run-off and stain pale floors and terraces.
04 / Advice
Care and delivery
Follow the care instructions for the piece and avoid trapped moisture at its base. Check the stated lead time, delivery terms for your country and access to the intended position.
05 / Cortenys
A plancha around the fire
The cooking ring takes the cuts to be seared while prawns grill in the centre, above the flames.
06 / Cortenys
Entertaining around the flame
From sunset into the night, Vulcain gathers guests around its bowl: you cook, you serve, and the fire stays at the centre of the evening.
07 / Cortenys
A bowl on its log-store base
A flared bowl set on a square base, Vulcain stores its logs underneath and finds its place in the middle of a stone terrace.
08 / Cortenys
A fire pit at ground level
Nyx sets a wide square bowl of Corten steel level with the paving, crossed by a line of bioethanol flame. Three square formats.
09 / Cortenys
The fire bowl, an evening ritual
Wide and low, Vesta gathers a wood fire the way a basin gathers water. Five diameters, from 600 to 1500 mm.
10 / Cortenys
A wood fire for cooking outdoors
At dusk, Vulcain lights its wood fire at the heart of a Corten steel bowl; its open base keeps the logs within reach.
11 / Cortenys
The fire pit that cooks
Vulcain rings its wood fire with a plancha-style cooking ring and keeps its logs in reserve in the open base.
Corten steel fire pits / Perspectives
In their setting.
Made to order
The time each piece deserves.
From your order to your space, every stage is carried through without shortcuts, with the rigour of true workshop craft.
6 to 12 weeks
Preparation
Included in the total lead time
Your order is checked down to the smallest detail, then prepared for the workshop.
Making
Included in the total lead time
Your piece is made for you by a partner manufacturer in Europe, with no finished goods held in stock.
Cortenys signature patina
5 days
One day of application on the Corten steel in the workshop, then four days for the patina to set and be inspected, piece by piece.
Delivery
Included in the total lead time
After a final inspection, transport is arranged to the agreed destination.
We deliver standard pieces, including Cortenys Editions, in 6 to 12 weeks after order confirmation. For bespoke pieces, we allow 8 to 13 weeks, with the schedule stated in the quotation.
Cortenys
Corten steel fire pits: frequently asked questions
Wood-burning or bioethanol fire pit: which should you choose?
A wood fire belongs to long evenings: embers, crackle, radiant heat. It is the fuel of the Vesta fire bowl and the Vulcain BBQ.
Which sizes are available?
Each product page lists the available dimensions and options. Bespoke sizes require an assessment.
Can Corten steel stain paving?
Runoff can carry patina residue. Protect pale paving and check whether the model offers an optional protective varnish, which greatly reduces runoff without ruling it out.
How should I prepare for delivery?
Check the terms for your address, access routes and the handling equipment needed for your chosen piece.
Is Corten steel painted?
Cortenys keeps the natural patina of Corten steel. An optional protective clear varnish is available on selected pieces; even varnished, Corten steel can still leave run-off and stain floors and terraces, so we recommend protecting pale surfaces.
A particular project in mind?
A dimension, a finish, a word of advice. The House is by your side, with the care it brings to every one of its pieces.
Cortenys collections