Late 19th-Century Provençal Water Jug in Tobacco-Toned Glaze - 13¾"

A late 19th-century Provençal cruche in glazed terracotta, its rounded ovoid body rising to a short collar with an arched carry handle over the mouth, a well-defined raised spout, and a small opposing ear handle. The glaze shifts from deep olive to tobacco brown, with lighter green highlights on the handle that trail in soft runs at the rim. The lower body remains unglazed, revealing the warm, brick-red clay beneath. Rustic and tactile, it carries the marks of age with scattered glaze losses, small rim and handle chips, and weathered wear at the base.

This sturdy piece of village pottery belongs to the southern French tradition of glazed earthenware, made for carrying and cooling water in kitchens and fields. Its arched handle and angled spout reflect a practical regional design, often linked to the gargoulette family of water jugs. Local red clays, fired hard, were finished with simple glazes colored by iron and copper oxides, creating the nuanced greens and browns. The deliberately unglazed base allowed for slight evaporation, helping to cool its contents.

Today it makes a striking accent, whether displayed alongside confit pots on open kitchen shelves, placed on a farmhouse table with olive branches or dried bouquets, or set on a console in an entryway. Its earthy palette and timeworn surface bring warmth and authenticity to both rustic and contemporary interiors.