Fire bowls, fire pits and a barbecue
Corten steel fire pits
Corten steel fire pits and fire tables.
Corten steel fire pits
Hélios · Vulcain
Choosing a Corten fire pit: a wood-burning fire bowl or a bioethanol flame
Vesta, the wood-burning Corten fire bowl
Vesta is made for a real wood fire: a few logs, a lively flame, then embers that keep the warmth going long afterwards. Wide and low, it ranges from 600 to 1500 mm in diameter, with 800, 1000 and 1200 mm in between. Set on a bed of gravel or a paving slab, it gathers a loose circle of light chairs that can be drawn closer as the night goes on. Burn well-seasoned logs that smoke little, keep them under cover, and clear the ashes only once the bowl has cooled.
Nyx, a very low Corten steel fire pit for bioethanol
Nyx takes the horizontal route: a low-slung square basin on a recessed base, so the steel seems to float above the ground. A straight slot at its centre holds a bioethanol flame, clean and smokeless, with no ash to clear. It comes in three square sizes, from 900 to 1500 mm across and 250 to 350 mm high, with indicative weights of about 60 to 140 kg. Sitting so low, it extends the line of the paving or the edge of a pond, and its flame can be enjoyed as easily from a lounger as through a window. Refuel it only once it is completely cold.
Where to place it, and when another piece fits better
Place a garden fire pit in Corten steel on stable ground that cannot burn (stone paving, concrete, pavers or compacted gravel), well away from hedges, parasols and façades, and never beneath a low awning or indoors. Both pieces arrive in the Cortenys signature patina, applied and inspected in our workshop, then left unvarnished, since bare patina is the right finish beside a fire; it goes on evolving with the weather. Neither is meant for cooking, as a patina is not a cooking surface; to cook over wood, the Vulcain BBQ surrounds its fire with a cooking ring. If you would rather have a tabletop around the flame for glasses and plates, look at our fire tables, and our guide to choosing between a fire pit and a fire table sets the two side by side.
FAQ
Can a Corten fire pit go on decking?
Timber decking is not a recommended base for a wood fire such as Vesta's. If decking is the only option, our buying guide advises a generous fire-resistant plate under the piece, reaching well past its edges, and a bioethanol flame such as Nyx's instead. Stone paving, concrete or compacted gravel are still the safest choice.
How do you look after Corten fire pits?
The patina is a thin, stable rust that protects the steel beneath, provided it can dry. So empty any rainwater from the bowl or basin and, once Vesta has cooled, clear its ashes, wet ones especially; Nyx leaves no ash, only its burner to keep clean. Neither needs paint or rust treatment, and both stay outside all year.
Are logs or bioethanol supplied?
No. Logs are not supplied with Vesta, nor bioethanol with Nyx. For Vesta, choose well-seasoned wood and keep it dry in a Corten steel log store close by; for Nyx, refill only when cold, and never relight straight after the flame has died.
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 barbecue
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 barbecue.
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