20th-century confiture pot w/ pale yellow demi glaze - southwest France 5"

This delightful antique custard-yellow confiture pot is from southwest France. Note the pretty tapered base that is unglazed. Confit and confiture 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. Terracotta was the ideal material to use as it absorbs moisture and has a cooling quality. Today, these charming pots are a lovely way to add a touch of Provence to your space or to enhance an existing collection of French pottery. If using for fresh cut flowers, be sure to place a container inside the pot first as there may be some condensation.