Two walnut oil jugs, fuel used in the 18th century for lighting. The mélard on the left is in raw white clay on which concretions come from the interior. The mélard on the left benefited from a water-green glaze which made it waterproof. Its two handles allow it to be hung on a rope to be able to lean it and thus facilitate the flow of oil.

Mélard in White Clay and Suspended Mélard – 18th century – Cantal – [PA073] [PA074]

“Mélard” jar, 18ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Auvergne, Cantal, Terracotta, The treasure corner

If one has a prehistoric look with these brown concretions that seem to emerge from the depths of time, the other wears, like armor, a beautiful green glaze that has pushed back all porosity. Both fulfilled in the farms of Cantal, the noble mission of saving the precious walnut oil, the only source of lighting in the 18th century. They are called mélards.

Imperial oil jug – 19ᵗʰ century – Quercy – [PA072]

Imperial oil jug – 19ᵗʰ century – Quercy – [PA072]

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Jug, Kitchen furniture, Oil jug, Provincial art, Quercy, Terracotta

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…

Terracotta ham pot – 19th century – Charente – [PA067]

Terracotta Jambonnière – 19th century – Charente – [PA067]

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Charentais, Jambonnière, Kitchen furniture, Terracotta, The treasure corner

Terracotta ham pot – 19th century – Charente – [PA067] THE FLOWER BOX FOR FLOWERS THE KITCHEN STOVE FOR FOOD THE JAMBONNIERE FOR… HAMS! Let’s rediscover a made-to-measure utensil born of peasant common sense and the talent of the potters of Sainte-Eutrope. To make a success of your homemade raw ham, it’s both simple and…

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]

“Mélard” jar, 19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Confit pots, Puy de Dôme, Terracotta, The treasure corner

PUY-DE-DÔME: LAND OF POTTERY AND VOLCANOES SINCE THE NIGHT OF TIMES It is on the ground of a thousand-year-old tradition that these three beautiful melards of varying proportions and colors were created. It should indeed be remembered that in the center of Auvergne, at the beginning of the Christian era, the black earths of the…

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]

Antique pottery, Early 19ᵗʰ century, Kitchen furniture, Late 18ᵗʰ century, Oil jar, Oil jug, Quercy, Terracotta, The treasure corner

The Aux-Rois-Louis sales gallery offers a vast collection of ancient pottery from Aquitaine, Auvergne and Midi-Pyrénées. Two oil jugs – late 18th century early 19th century – Lot Valley, Quercy We recognize in the roundness of these jugs an exuberant and sensual inspiration specific to the ancient Quercy potters’ centers. Several clues seem to indicate…

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

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

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Head jug, Kitchen furniture, Landes, The treasure corner, Water jug

Two water jugs – 19th century – Les Landes [PA060] Of Spanish Basque inspiration, with a washer at the top of the spout to facilitate its grip, this jug has, around the top opening, an orange-colored glazed bib. [PA061] This head jug, also from the pottery center of Castandet in the Landes, presents a glazed…

Three water jugs – 19th century – Périgord – [PA055] [PA056] [PA057]

Three water jugs – 19th century – Périgord – [PA055] [PA056] [PA057]

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Kitchen furniture, Périgord, Water jug

Three water jugs – 19th century – Périgord – [PA055] [PA056] [PA057] These three water jugs were hand-turned in the 19th century by master potters from the famous Beauronne-Douzillac workshops in the heart of Périgord. They were dedicated to the use of water and wine for table service. The green color of the glazes -…

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

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

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Oil jug, Périgord, The treasure corner

Two oil jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [PA053] [PA054] Both from the famous pottery center of Beauregard-de-Terrasson, these two oil jugs have well-known distinctive signs. The first, on the left in the overall photo, presents a wine-colored glaze obtained thanks to manganese oxide, manganese being a natural metal extracted from Perigord soil since…

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]

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, South West of France, Terrine, The treasure corner

Terrine in the shape of a hare in glazed earthenware – 19ᵗʰ century – South West – [PA050] Also called “gîte à pâté”, this zoomorphic-inspired terrine was used both for cooking and for presenting the famous hare pâté on a well-appointed table. The originality of this glazed terrine also lies in the alternation of star…

Mélard – 19ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme – [PA049] – Photo : Claude MANGIN.

Mélard – 19ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme – [PA049]

“Mélard” jar, 19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Auvergne, Puy de Dôme

Mélard – 19ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme – [PA049] – Photos: Claude MANGIN. 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…

Two water jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Sadirac – Gironde

Two water jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Sadirac – Gironde – [PA041] [PA042]

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Gironde, Water jug

Two water jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Sadirac – Gironde – [PA041] [PA042] These two water jugs, originating from the pottery center of Sadirac in Gironde, are characterized by the originality of their colors, obtained thanks to copper oxide. On the smaller one, we observe shades of pale green resulting from the flame effects on…

Glazed terracotta jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Beauronne-Douzillac – [PA039 - PA040]

Glazed terracotta jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Beauronne-Douzillac – [PA039 – PA040]

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Aquitaine, Oil jug, Périgord, Water jug

Glazed terracotta jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Beauronne-Douzillac – [PA039 – PA040] These two terracotta jugs come from the famous pottery center of Beauronne-Douzillac in the Dordogne. On the larger one we observe, depending on its overall glaze, subtle shades of green resulting from the heating effect in the oven. Patterns of digitized bands are…

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

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

19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Midi-Pyrénées, The treasure corner, Water jug

Two water jugs – 19ᵗʰ century – Midi-Pyrénées [PA036] [PA037] Carried on the heads of women who went to fetch water from the village well or fountain, these jugs are called “head jugs”. In order to make the task less painful and less perilous, these water carriers made a straw wreath wrapped in fabric which…

Oil jug  – 18ᵗʰ century – Quercy

Oil jug – 18ᵗʰ century – Quercy [PA013]

18ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Oil jar, Oil jug, Provincial art, Quercy, The treasure corner

Oil jug  – 18ᵗʰ century – Quercy This elegant oil jar, turned in the 18ᵗʰ century, is distinguished by its slender upward handle, its pinched spout, its gray brown glaze made with manganese and its decoration of knurled strips arranged diagonally. So many particular signs in this region of production, the Quercy, which make us…

Varnished earthenware oil jar – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – Massif Central

Varnished earthenware oil jar – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – Massif Central [PA029]

“Mélard” jar, 19ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Auvergne

Varnished earthenware oil jar – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – Massif Central Varnished earthenware oil jar – 19ᵗʰ century – Auvergne – Massif Central This “mélard” from the Auvergne stands out with its rich green flamed finish and glaze. The lead varnish enhances and beautifies this old oil jar. Walnut oil used to be burnt…

Glazed earthenware « mélard » - 18ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme

Glazed earthenware « mélard » – 18ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme [PA027]

“Mélard” jar, 18ᵗʰ century, Antique pottery, Auvergne, Provincial art, Puy de Dôme

Glazed earthenware « mélard » – 18ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme Glazed earthenware « mélard » – 18ᵗʰ century – Puy de Dôme The size of this commonly used piece of pottery is absolutely amazing. In days gone by, it was used for storing nut oil in mills, châteaux and monasteries. In the 18ᵗʰ century, nut oil was…