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]

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…

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

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

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…

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

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

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…