Imperial oil jug – 19ᵗʰ century – Quercy – [PA072]
Among the jewels of the salesroom gallery Aux-Rois-Louis, emerges this astonishing pottery which immediately evokes a beauty in an evening dress.
Among the jewels of the salesroom gallery Aux-Rois-Louis, emerges this astonishing pottery which immediately evokes a beauty in an evening dress.

She advances, as if towards an opera box, dressed in her sequined black evening dress and sporting on her throat her prettiest long necklace composed of pearls in the shape of flowers, of which one imagines each petal adorned with precious stones.

Yes, I am talking to you about an oil jug modeled under the amazed hands of a master potter from the depths of Quercy in the 19ᵗʰ century. Perhaps during the reign of Napoleon Iᵉʳ, with as a source of inspiration this noble and proud air that Josephine addresses to us on her famous portrait “in coronation costume”, a splendid canvas today visible in Périgord at Cendrieux, in the residence of Baudoin-Napoleon de Witt who inherited it.

« Joséphine en costume de Sacre » (Joséphine in Coronation Costume), painted by François Gérard. Napoleon Museum Collection – Cendrieux – Périgord – France
« Joséphine en costume de Sacre » (Joséphine in Coronation Costume), painted by François Gérard. Napoleon Museum Collection – Cendrieux – Périgord – France
The flower necklace that underlines the spout and caresses the belly of this jug like a precious jewel is the signature of its author, resolutely fell under the spell of what was born under his hands.
The flower necklace that underlines the spout and caresses the belly of this jug like a precious jewel is the signature of its author, resolutely fell under the spell of what was born under his hands.
Count Baudoin-Napoleon de Witt, great-great-grandnephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, presents to us the portrait of “Joséphine en costume de Sacre” in the Napoleon Museum that he created at the Château de la Pommerie in Cendrieux - Périgord - FRANCE
Count Baudoin-Napoleon de Witt, great-great-grandnephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, presents to us the portrait of “Joséphine en costume de Sacre” in the Napoleon Museum that he created at the Château de la Pommerie in Cendrieux - Périgord - FRANCE
Napoleon Museum – Château de la Pommerie in Cendrieux – Périgord – FRANCE
Napoleon Museum – Château de la Pommerie in Cendrieux – Périgord – FRANCE

Musée Napoléon

It is precisely in the heart of noble houses, such as this Château de la Pommerie in Périgord, that this type of ancient pottery knew its hour of glory, illuminating each residence thanks to the walnut oil which it protected in its belly.

  • Its tubular spout made it possible to fill oil lamps without losing a single drop.
  • Its fluted handles kept it leaning.
  • The imprint of the potter’s fingers is revealed on the attachment of the handles to the body on which he had to press hard to weld them well.
  • As for the flower necklace which underlines the spout and caresses the belly like a precious jewel, it is the signature of its author, resolutely fallen under the spell of what was born under his hands.
The imprint of the potter's fingers is revealed on the attachment of the handles to the body on which he had to press hard to weld them well.
The imprint of the potter's fingers is revealed on the attachment of the handles to the body on which he had to press hard to weld them well.
It is this very special flower necklace that makes this piece a unique work.
It is this very special flower necklace that makes this piece a unique work.

Dimensions

Height: 31cm, diameter: 33cm.

Reference : [PA072]

Item shown as an example. Please contact David on 06 78 92 61 98 if you would like him to offer you similar pieces.

Ancient pottery

This globular mélard with pinched spout, an intermediary size between the large mélard and the oil jug, was meant to be suspended. Its base is rounded for this purpose, to ensure the attachment of a rope without sharp angles. The rope passing under the bottom was held from bottom to top against the pottery's belly by another transverse rope passing under the specially flared neck. The whole was suspended from a beam resembling a joist. This mélard is covered with a green glaze and a lead cover, two finishes intended to provide it with brilliance and waterproofing. Its decoration consists of finger-molded bands. The facade is adorned with a cross motif placed under the pinched spout. This reduced spout allowed for a faster, smoother flow.

Globular Melard with Spout – 18th Century – Puy de Dôme – [PA088]

This oil barrel comes from the renowned pottery center of La Chapelle-des-Pots, located in the former province of Charentes, known as Saintonge. Exclusively in Saintonge, from the Middle Ages onward, these barrel-shaped potteries were crafted using the beautiful local clay, reserving walnut oil for the lighting of each household.

Glazed Terracotta Oil Barrel – 19th Century – Saintonge – [PA080]

Statufied and adorned with an emerald scarf, its gentle belly fears no ravages of time. On the contrary, it enhances it, turning this Charente pottery into a star jar, or dare I say, an authentic oil of the upscale districts.

Petrified Oil Jar – 19th Century – Saintonge / Charente – [PA077]

Three terracotta melards – orange, green and yellow – 19th century – Puy-de-Dôme – [PA064 PA065 PA066]

Three terracotta melards – orange, green and yellow – 19th century – Puy-de-Dôme – [PA064 PA065 PA066]

Two oil jugs - late 18th century early 19th century - Lot Valley, Quercy - [PA062] [PA063]

Two oil jugs – late 18th century early 19th century – Lot Valley, Quercy – [PA062] [PA063]

Two water jugs - 19th century - Lot Valley - [PA058] [PA059]

Two water jugs – 19th century – Lot Valley – [PA058] [PA059]

Two water jugs – 19th century – Les Landes – [PA060] [PA061]

Two water jugs – 19th century – Les Landes – [PA060] [PA061]

Two oil jugs - 19ᵗʰ century - Périgord - [PA053] [PA054]

Two oil jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [PA053] [PA054]

Overall, the vertical bands accentuate the pot-bellied aspect of this beautiful pottery.

Oil jug – Late 18ᵗʰ century – Quercy – [PA052]

The zoomorphic-inspired cover is therefore shaped like a hare.

Terrine in the shape of a hare in glazed earthenware – 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [PA050]

Oil jar – 19ᵗʰ century – Quercy – [PA044]

Oil jar – 19ᵗʰ century – Quercy – [PA044]

Two water jugs - 19ᵗʰ century - Midi-Pyrénées [PA036] [PA037]

Two water jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Midi-Pyrénées [PA036] [PA037]

Three water jugs - 19ᵗʰ century - Périgord

Three water jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [PA033] [PA034] [PA035]

Oil jug – 19ᵗʰ century – Beauregard de Terrasson

Oil jug – 19ᵗʰ century – Beauregard de Terrasson [PA014]

Oil jug  – 18ᵗʰ century – Quercy

Oil jug – 18ᵗʰ century – Quercy [PA013]

Pitcher – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – [PA009]

Pitcher – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne [PA009]

Oil jar – 18ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – [PA008]

Oil jar – 18ᵗʰ century – Auvergne [PA008]

Confit pot – 19ᵗʰ century – Gers

Confit pot – 19ᵗʰ century – Gers [PA016]

Oil jar – Early 19ᵗʰ century – Quercy – [PA015]

Oil jar – Early 19ᵗʰ century – Quercy [PA015]

Cruche à huile – XIXᵉ siècle – Auvergne

Oil jar – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne [PA007]

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