Real Vs Fake Knock off Versailles planter

HOW TO / TIPS

HOW TO SPOT A FAKE VERSAILLES PLANTER

The original versailles planter boxes, or french planter boxes from the Orangerie of the Palace of Versailles France, were invented and designed in 17th century by André le Nôtre gardener of the King Louis XIV.

At Jardinier du Roi, we have a vast experience making exclusively this lovely french style planters, and our main goal is to follow the same spirit of the original design invented 400 years ago, carefully following the same concept design and proportions.

We often receive request from clients that are confused about how to recognize a versailles planter and what is not, as they are often seeing cheap fake knock offs on the market that do not follow any of the original concept design, proportions, and materials.

So this is the main reason why we decided to write just a few lines about this matter, based in our vast experience exclusively manufacturing versailles planters for many years, trying to help our clients that are in the struggle of deciding what to buy, trying to help them making the right decision about which planter to buy for their projects, as well as to help them understand the basics of a real versailles planter.

Anyway in any case, it is the client who makes the decision of what type of planter he wants, or can buy for his project. As well as the budget that the client has is what ultimately influences the decision of which planter to buy. All options are valid.

Picture: Above the original concept design of a versailles planter, made by Jardinier du Roi, size 70cm, color grey boutique tropezienne.

With noticeable parts of the frame made of cast aluminum foundry such as the four legs on the columns, the intersection with oval logo, the crossbars and also other parts of the frame such as the finials that follows the original design of the real versailles planters.

This planter also have real removable side wooden thick panels, with real removable crossbars made of cast aluminum foundry with real aluminum pin bolts and real working hinges.

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A good example of a FAKE KNOCK-OFF versailles planter box, that should not be confused with a real versailles planter design

Picture: the photo Above is a good example of a planter box that should not be confused with a real versailles planter design. This planter is so different that is not even marketed or intended to be confused as a Versailles Planter because it is clearly not the same in any of the parts, design and construction aspect.

Let me explain to you a few of the huge differences in some of the main parts and components.

First of all the frame is not made in a foundry, it is just a welded and riveted metal parts, the finials that are probably the only parts made in a foundry have a rounded ball shape totally different from the original design, the feet of each leg or column are also folded and bent metal parts not made in a foundry or if they are made in a foundry they do not follow the same design basis, and as they are a weak feet for this structure because they have only two sides on each feet, they need to add a visible reinforcement with rivets to increase the overall resistance.

Usually this version is opened only on one side, and the other 3 side panels are fixed and welded and can not be opened, so you will not be able to access the roots, and then they also manufacture an hermetic metallic inner liner that is a square box made of metal with a few holes at the bottom which is also another big problem to access the roots of the plant or tree.

The horizontal intersection piece between the legs that should also be made a cast foundry piece that usually comes with the oval logo of the manufacturer, its just a piece of iron or aluminum also riveted and welded.

The side panels in this planters are usually made of a thin layer of aluminum of around 3 millimeters, emulating to be a wood panel, and inside this version should also have a metallic welded liner made of an aluminum thin sheet or zinc sheet to prevent the roots of this plant from deforming the thin outer aluminum layer that is emulating to be a wooden panel.

In the case that this side panels are made of a real wood, then the inner liner is not needed because the wood panel will hold the strength of the roots by itself. The cross bars have no real hinges and they are assembled together with the side thin layer of aluminum sheet panel to give strength to the fake side panel.

This are just a few of the main differences to clarify, why this design does not follow the original concept design basics of a versailles planter. And obviously this planter with all this differences will be cheaper to manufacture, and maybe for the eye of a person who doesn't know much, it may look like they are fine for their projects.

Not every square box planter is a versailles planter, there are many more examples of fake knock offs like this one all over the web.

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Photo of a real versailles planter

Picture: The above image is from a real versailles planter from the gardens of Versailles, in this case the side panels are not painted, but it has all the design details as it should be.

First, a Quick History Lesson…

The first original orange planter boxes also know as Versailles planters or french planters were invented during the 17th century by La Quintinie and André Le Nôtre, the gardeners of King Louis XIV for the château of Versailles, located 25km to the south west of Paris.

Picture: Statue from André Le Nôtre taken at the gardens of the Chateau of Chantilly.

At that time exotic fruits were brought from abroad to Versailles, and as the plants were sensitive to the harsh winter weather in Versailles, a giant orangery was built capable of containing thousands of the most exotic trees, like citrus trees and palm trees, where they will be moved to the orangerie to spend the winter season, from November to April.

Picture: stored versailles planter at the Orangerie of the palace of Versailles.

Instead of stressing the plants and trees by transplanting several times a year from the gardens to the orangery, by planting and replanting these trees two times a year, André Le Nôtre invented a portable planter box where the trees could remain permanently all year long.

Picture: Today the versailles planters are moved by a tractor to the covered orangerie before the winter season.

Another important design element of this particular planters is the fact that you have access to the roots all the time. It is the only planter with four opening side panels giving direct access to the mound and allowing necessary attention to the roots.

So for easy access to the roots, the side panels of the versailles planter can be removed, just by taking any of the pin bolts on each hinge of the crossbars.

It also comes with a special design floor for a good drainage, the growth of plants is enhanced by better drainage and proper ventilation of the soil. Also the hole design of the frame of the versailles planter it is not hermetic, it allows to breath frame each side of the panels as well as from the bottom floor, a similar to what today geotextile pots are doing, but discovered 400 years ago.

Due to the harsh climate in France and also due to the heavy weight of the trees, the orange tree planter boxes were manufactured with an exceptional solidity, as we still do, our orange tree planter boxes are even stronger than in 17th century because we are using 21st century materials much more stronger and lighter with an improved ability to withstand the harshest weather conditions.

Nothing Beats the Original design

Jardinier du Roi versailles planters provide numerous benefits, features and advantages that benefit home and commercial owners.

The original design is based on simple facts:

First of all, the frame of the planter its almost all made in a foundry, it could be made of aluminum foundry or iron foundry, but the frame it is never fully made of welded and bent pieces of steel, iron, or aluminum, and the frame can not be either fully made out of wood or plastic, or from bent and welded pieces of metal such as zinc or aluminum.

So to manufacture this planter for each size requires to do several moulding parts for the foundry, and it is not a cheap or a fast process to do.

Second, the proportions of the planters follows the original proportions like the ones at the palace of versailles.

Picture: Original concept design and proportions as a real versailles planter.

Third, the side panels are removable panels made of wood, not made from a bent sheet of thin aluminum or plastic, or iron.

Four, a real versailles planter concept design has removable side panels, to remove the panels you must remove the pins on the hinges on the foundry made crossbars on each side to get access to the roots.

Five, the orginal planter at versailles do not use metalic liners inside, because this goes totally against the conceptual design of this planter, that its designed to let the roots of the plant to breath not just thru a few holes at the botom floor of a metalic hermetic welded liner, but also needs to breath thru all sides.

So the recommended internal liner that should be used for this purpose is a geotextile liner pot bag.

Picture: Jardinier du Roi Versailles with geotextile inner liner.

Buying Versailles planter boxes that are keeping the same concept elements and manufacture processes of the originals designed 400 years ago, its an investment for everyone, and it may take some time to get your hands into them due that are not cheap and not easy to manufacture, and always made to order.

Sometimes before buying many of the customers made a research specially when the budget is limited and unfortunately sometimes they have to decide to go for a cheap knock off option, that may look similar to the eye of a person who never visited Paris or Versailles but its never the same quality or follows the original design.

Sometimes many customers do not know how to spot the differences and they end up buying cheap fake knock offs that will not pass the eye of any person who ever visited France at least once in their life, and they end up having just a bad quality planter box that is not even similar to a Versailles planter.

Small variations are accepted too, because at Versailles you can also find small variations today.

In fact when this planters were created 400 years ago, the king Louis XIV also got around 100 versailles planters with the frame made of pure silver metal foundry instead of iron foundry, let me remind you that the frame itself could weight between 50 kilos to 100 kilos of pure silver metal foundry.

Picture: Taken at versailles palace orangerie gardens, original versailles planters with all frames made at a foundry.

Then in the actual days you may also find at versailles just a few exceptions of a cheaper version they did probably because the King is not there anymore, and as Versailles since the french revolution is handled by the state of France, during the los and downs they probably need to look for cheaper options, but this variations are an exception to the rule, and anyway they tried to keep the same proportions and look as much as possible.

Picture: taken at versailles orangerie, a low quality versailles planter found at the Orangerie of versailles gardens, that is not as it should be, because this frame it is not made at a foundry, it has a welded iron frame without foundry frame parts, only the finial is made at a foundry.

Picture: Original versailles planters at Versailles Palace gardens, the smaller planter in front has a frame made of welded iron, this frame is not made at a foundry of cast iron or cast aluminum. Then the small planter below that one, has real foundry frame, then the next two below that one have welded iron frames, then the rest have original cast iron frames.

Another main design concept of the real versailles planter is the ability to access to the roots by removing the side panels

Unlike traditional containers, which cause root circling, our versailles planter as weill as with or without the addition of the accessory geotextile liner promote a process known as “air pruning.” When roots reach the boundary of the side panels or to the geotextile fabric liner, they sense the presence of oxygen penetrating the side panels or thru the geotextile fabric liner.

So Instead of circling the pot seeking an exit, roots form finely branched structures that deliver moisture and nutrients to the growing plant more efficiently. A larger, healthier root mass leads to vastly improved yields.

Jardinier du Roi versailles planters promote excellent drainage. Excess moisture drains directly through the hole structure, with or without the accessory geotextile fabric liner, virtually eliminating root rot and its associated parasites.

Jardinier du Roi versailles planters geotextile liners are completely free of chemicals, dyes and BPA. They are chemically inert, so there is never a danger of harmful chemicals leaching into the soil.

Jardinier du Roi versailles planters are hand made 100%, our manufacturing process gives total quality control over the manufacturing process.

Jardinier du Roi versailles planters are incredibly durable and made specifically for your grow or garden. When properly used, stored and maintained, they deliver a minimum lifespan of several years.

Picture: Original versailles planters, photo taken at versailles palace orangerie.

So How Can You Tell real Versailles planter from Cheap Knock-Offs?

Actually, it’s pretty simple. Just look for all the details we explained in this blog, if you see that all the design elements we mentioned are not there, you’re probably getting less than you bargained for.

The real Versailles planter is a symbol of symbol of beauty, perfection, strength and luxury, since ancient times. The Versailles tree boxes are usually seen on many palaces, chateaux, hotels, or public places in France. Thanks to rigorous testing, refinement and top-quality craftsmanship, you know you’re getting the best when buying a versailles planter from jardinier du Roi.

When it comes to real versailles planters, you’re better off choosing the real deal. So be sure to look for all the design details, and also remember that our versions of the orginials versailles planters made 400 years ago, are only sold in our official website www.jardinierduroi.com

When you see and taste the incredible results of our high quality versailles planters, you’ll be glad you chose the world’s original concept design of the real versailles planter.

Picture; Jardinier du Roi versailles planter.

Final thoughts, this lovely planters are pieces of art that we love with all our heart, we wrote this blog and published this pictures with the only purpose to instruct all new buyers, to let them know what is a real versailles planter, because we realized that they are confused asking for details that does not represent at all a real versailles planter or the spirit of this master pieces.

If you ever got the chance to walk thru the Orangerie gardens of the Palace of Versailles or the Tuileries gardens in Paris France, you may have seen that the trees aren’t rooted in the soil, instead they are planted inside this lovely orange tree planter boxes, the shape and the design of the Versailles planter boxes really steal the show.

For more information contact us direct to our:

JARDINIER DU ROI Versailles planter

Warehouse in U.S.A

8320 N.W 14 street

Miami, FL 33126 - USA

Miami: +1 (305) 83-44752

Tel/whatsapp: +5491144726757

email: pplaul@hotmail.com

Website: https://www.jardinierduroi.com

Legal notice: All brand names, photos, models, trademarks, and registered trademarks mentioned in this website or blog are property of their legal owners and are being used here only for description.

LEGAL NOTICE: Do not be confused, we are Jardinier du Roi versailles planters, we manufacture and sell worldwide the authentic Jardinier du Roi Versailles planter boxes, so you can now add a taste of a French chateau to your garden or boutique anywhere in the world, with a Versailles style tree box just imagine your own Versailles garden. All the products we sell in our website have our own brand name Jardinier du Roi on it, and we do not sell our products with any other competitor brand name or logo, so if you are looking for any other brand of manufacturer you must go to their own website. ​ The use of a mentioned trademark brand names to describe our goods or services is known as 'nominative fair use' this is a non-infringing use, this brand names are mentioned neither to create confusion, nor to disparaging the trademarked product. It is also permitted to use a trademark as a means for comparison. ​ Comparative advertising it is also allowed, since it benefits consumers by providing several options and encouraging competition. It is also allowed the use of similar words associated to registered brand names or products mentioned in this website that have become generic with the years due to their name's widespread popularity, it is a non-infringing use. These are uses that inform, educate, or express opinions protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, freedom of speech and of the press. ​ By law, you need not request permission to use a trademark belonging to another if it is for an editorial or informational use. Trademark "ownership" is not absolute, you can use a trademark belonging to another person or company if you use the mark for: informational or editorial purposes to identify specific products and services, or if your use is part of an accurate comparative product statement. In other words, the use of a trademark does not necessarily qualify as an infringement if the user is not actually using the trademark as a mark. Informational Uses of a Trademark Are Permissible Informational (or “editorial”) uses of a trademark do not require permission from its owner. Finally, you are also permitted to use trademarks for purposes of parody or commentary without fearing a claim of trademark infringement. Using Trademarks for Comparison Under trademark law you are generally permitted to use a trademark as a means for comparison.

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