Large 19th-century confit pot w/ crackled green glaze 11½"

This rare confit pot featuring a distinct green and crackled glaze is from southwest France and dates to the late nineteenth century. It has a magnificent patina, exposing traces of its terracotta form beneath and a lovely pair of ribbed ear handles. There is even a delightfully unexpected trace of bright yellow glaze beneath a small area of the green, complementing its crackled interior yellow glaze. Note the pretty tapered base that is unglazed.

Confit pots were half-glazed for two reasons. Firstly to stop rodents being able to grip onto the surface of the pot and help themselves to the contents. Secondly, they were glazed inside and the top half of the outside to keep the pot cool through evaporation. Pots were often buried in the ground of the cellar to preserve the contents - usually meat that was sealed with a layer of fat.

Terracotta was the ideal material to use as it absorbs moisture and has a cooling quality allowing the cool earth to reach the meat inside. Today, this charming pot is a lovely way to add a touch of Provence to your space or to enhance an existing collection of French pottery. If using for flowers, be sure to place a container inside the pot first. Note heavy patina as seen in photos.