Late 19th Century French Green-Glazed Olive Jar From Tornac - 18½"

This French glazed terracotta olive jar likely hails from Tornac, a renowned pottery town in southern France and dates to the late 19th to early 20th century. The ovoid body tapers gracefully to a narrow foot and rises to a short neck with double rings and an everted lip. Two small, symmetrical loop handles sit at the shoulder, lending balance and elegance to the form. The surface is covered in a striking deep bottle-green lead glaze, alive with tonal variation and pooling, while the rim and base reveal warm touches of exposed clay. Minor rim and foot chips, small glaze losses, and surface wear add rustic charm. Green-glazed jars from the Cévennes and Anduze region were traditionally made for storing olives in brine and other household provisions, their lustrous glaze helping to seal the clay. Tornac workshops shared in this local savoir-faire, producing robust yet graceful vessels with practical double handles for lifting. The swelling belly and slender foot reflect a long Languedoc tradition of pottery where earthy clay and rich glazes combined utility with beauty. Today, this jar makes a striking statement as a vase for seasonal blooms or dried floral arrangements. It brings depth and authentic southern French character to an entry, kitchen, or garden room, where its saturated green glaze resonates beautifully with limestone, natural woods, and wrought iron. Whether grouped with confit pots on a console or placed alone on a kitchen island, it adds both color and timeless Provençal charm to traditional and contemporary interiors alike.