Late 19th–Early 20th Century French Orjol in Glossy Green Glaze - 8¾"

A hand-thrown earthenware water jug finished in a softly variegated glossy olive green glaze that reads warm and earthy indoors, this late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century piece carries the quiet charm of rural pottery. Its timeworn patina, including small glaze losses, nicks to the rim and spout, and typical kiln speckling, enhances its rustic authenticity. One of the twin strap handles extends into an elongated spout, a hallmark of the orjol, the traditional water jug of southern France.

Orjols were everyday household vessels across Provence and Languedoc, designed for drawing, storing, and pouring drinking water, and their distinctive handled spouts allowed for easy transport from village wells.  Produced for centuries in small local potteries, they were prized for their practicality as well as their simple, sculptural beauty.

It styles beautifully on open kitchen shelving, bringing a note of color and a warm country feel. It looks wonderful on its own or grouped with other green potteries for a collected, characterful display.