Luxury Corten steel furniture
Corten steel water basins
Corten steel water bowls and basins.
Corten water bowl, round basin or reflecting pool?
Bowl, circle or rectangle
All three pieces hold water rather than move it: no jet, no cascade, just a calm surface for the sky to settle on. The Sélène water bowl is low and gently curved, 600 to 1500 mm across and 87 to 205 mm high; at 4.8 to 29.9 kg, it is also the lightest of the three. Ondine, a round Corten steel water basin made from 3 mm sheet, comes in diameters from 1000 to 2500 mm and always stands 500 mm high, giving it the presence of a raised Corten pond. Narcisse, in the same 3 mm steel, borrows the long shape of a water trough and turns it into a reflecting pool, from 1000 to 4000 mm long and 500 or 600 mm high.
Still by design, or brought to life
None of our three basins comes with a pump or lighting: set down on its own, each becomes a mirror for sky and foliage. Ondine can later take a pump and a water jet of your choosing. Paired with one of our water walls, Narcisse becomes the basin that receives the falling water. Sélène is meant to stay exactly as it is; if you would like water that bubbles up or spills over a rim, look instead at our fountains, which come with a pump.
Clear water, pool edges and the coast
Every piece arrives dressed in the Cortenys signature patina, applied and inspected in our workshop, and the protective varnish is offered as an option on all three. Corten needs to dry out, so water left to stagnate against the steel keeps corrosion going: treat the basin as you would any garden pond, with clear, regularly renewed water. Beside a swimming pool, keep it back from splashes and choose the varnished finish, which greatly reduces run-off on pale coping without ruling it out, so keep spacers or a drip tray beneath the piece. For direct contact with pool water or right on the seafront, Ondine and Narcisse have counterparts among our aluminium water basins, while Sélène exists only in Corten steel; further back from the shore, a varnished piece rinsed with fresh water is assessed case by case, bearing in mind that even varnished, it can still stain pale paving.
FAQ
Does standing water damage Corten steel?
It can. The patina builds up through cycles of wetting and drying, and steel left sitting in stagnant water never forms that stable layer, so corrosion carries on. That is why a Corten water piece is cared for like a pond, with clear, regularly renewed water.
How should a Corten water bowl be filled for the first time?
Pieces arrive ready to install, and we do not provide on-site installation. Set the bowl or basin level in its final position before filling it, as the waterline will reveal the slightest slope. Rinse the inside, then fill it with clean water. Our Corten steel care guide covers the seasons that follow.
Sélène or Ondine: which round piece to choose?
Sélène is a low bowl, 87 to 205 mm high, made to sit just as it is on a terrace, on gravel or among planting. Ondine stands 500 mm high in diameters from 1000 to 2500 mm: a true round basin, which can also take a pump and a water jet of your choosing.
Corten steel water basins / The models
Our selection of Corten steel water basins
Discover pieces designed to live outdoors beautifully for years.
Luxury Corten steel furniture
The spirit of the collection
Discover Narcisse, Ondine and Sélène to create a still-water feature in your garden.
Installing a Corten steel fountain or water featureCortenys
Advice and design: Corten steel water basins
01 / Advice
Corten steel water basins
Corten steel water bowls and basins. Discover Narcisse, Ondine and Sélène to create a still-water feature in 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 round basin on the lawn
Ondine sets a circle of calm water in the middle of the grass, a few steps from the swimming pool.
06 / Cortenys
A bowl that gathers the sky
Wide and low, Sélène turns still water into a mirror resting on the paving.
Corten steel water basins / 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 water basins: frequently asked questions
How should a Corten steel water basin be maintained?
Remove leaves and debris regularly, top up the water level in hot weather and renew the water when necessary. Before hard frosts, follow the model’s recommendations for draining and winter protection.
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