Totally Uncommon

Mon dieu! In 1929, the La Cornue oven appeared positively futuristic in design—compare its 'semi-cylindrique' form to the jumble of old-fashioned, boxy ranges in the background. Its cooking technology, too, was ahead of its time; what we now call convection mode was then based on d'air trĂ©s chaud toujours humide. To the relief of cabinet makers everywhere, the appliance has certainly straightened up since those distant, roly-poly days.