Photo : Claude MANGIN

Mélard – 19ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme

Large oil reserve in glazed earthenware used in walnut oil producing regions such as Auvergne, these jars called “mélards” were stored in cluzeaux and the cellars of mills or large state houses.
Walnut oil was stored there, redistributed in smaller jars to power the oil lamps providing lighting.
This type of mélard was suspended by strong ropes in order to avoid any contact with the potential humidity of the ground which could, by capillary action, have crossed the porous clay in which these large receptacles were shaped.

Photo : Claude MANGIN
Photo : Claude MANGIN
Stored in cellars or cluzeaux of mills and large houses, these jars called mélards made it possible to keep “above ground”, to prevent any penetration of humidity, the reserves of walnut oil used for lighting the buildings. Photo: Claude MANGIN.
Stored in cellars or cluzeaux of mills and large houses, these jars called mélards made it possible to keep “above ground”, to prevent any penetration of humidity, the reserves of walnut oil used for lighting the buildings. Photo: Claude MANGIN.
Photo : Claude MANGIN
Photo : Claude MANGIN
Photo : Claude MANGIN
Photo : Claude MANGIN

Price: on demand.
Dimensions:
Height 73 cm, diameter about 70 cm.
Reference: [PA049]

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