Unusual French Glazed Terracotta Pot w/ Pierced Body - 7½"

This unusual French glazed terracotta vessel, likely early 20th century, is wheel-thrown with a rounded ovoid body on a flat base. The wide mouth is edged with a thick rolled rim and flanked by opposed strap handles for carrying. The body is pierced with evenly spaced circular holes that rise in neat rows from the base to the shoulder, giving the pot both rhythm and sculptural presence. Finished in a warm chestnut-brown glaze, the surface shows glossy highlights with areas of thinning around the rim and handles where the buff clay comes through. 

Its original function is uncertain: such pierced vessels may have been used as strainers or, in some culinary traditions, as containers for keeping live snails. Whatever its purpose, the form has a distinctive appeal that bridges utility and rustic decoration.

In today’s interiors, this vessel stands out as a distinctive and unusual piece, a true conversation starter. It can be used with a liner as a vase, or fitted with a candle or small lamp inside so that the pierced body casts a warm, dappled glow. It pairs beautifully with other glazed terracotta, copper, and natural wood, adding warmth and texture to both rustic and modern organic settings.