Mélard in white clay – 18th century – Cantal – [PA073]
Globular in shape, its bottom is rounded, this melard is surrounded by fingered serpentiform strips superimposed freely, each printing its bold curves as it pleases. This is the chic asset of this pottery from rural Cantal in the 18th century, which moreover appears in its simplest form. The raw white clay that constitutes it is devoid of any form of glaze.
![Mélard, or walnut oil jar, from the 18th century decorated with serpentiform strips with finger impressions This raw white clay mélard is adorned with snakelike strips with finger impressions that run all around its belly. They form like a necklace surmounting two sinusoidal lines superimposed from the center downwards. This pottery of good size was mounted by hand and with a coil by an Auvergne potter in the 18th century.](https://www.aux-rois-louis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PA073_314.webp)
![SOLD SOLD](https://www.aux-rois-louis.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BANDEAU_Sold-300x300.webp)
This simplicity is poetically balanced by the hues and silhouettes that have formed over its life as a pitcher, on the farm. This pottery contained walnut oil used for household lighting. Given its porosity, the oil managed to penetrate the body in places, hence these brown traces which evoke certain figures of primitive parietal art. They are actually natural concretions of walnut oil.
Dimensions
Height: 45 cm, height, diameter: 42 cm
Reference: [PA073]
Hanging Mélard – 18th century – Cantal – [PA074]
It should be remembered that in the 18th century, mélards constituted reserves for walnut oil, at that time used as fuel for lighting. To facilitate the tilting of this pottery when pouring the oil through its tubular spout, two handles were provided through which a rope was slipped in order to be able to suspend it once filled.
Its beautiful water-green glaze was obtained thanks to copper oxides skilfully chosen by the Auvergne potter who shaped it with a coil and who, in his own way, signs his work with the marks of his fingers printed in the many bands of which he adorned it. An aesthetic asset greatly appreciated by the customers of the potters’ markets in the 18th century in the heart of Cantal.
Dimensions
Height: 41 cm, height, diameter: 37 cm
Reference: [PA074]
![Mélard with two handles allowing it to be hung up for better handling This mélard has a beautiful water-green glaze obtained thanks to copper oxides skilfully chosen by the Auvergne potter who shaped it during the 18th century. This craftsman signs his creation in his own way by the mark of his fingers printed in the many clay strips with which he has adorned it.](https://www.aux-rois-louis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PA074_315.webp)
![SOLD SOLD](https://www.aux-rois-louis.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BANDEAU_Sold-300x300.webp)
![Tubular spout for pouring walnut oil used in the 18th century for lighting In profile, this mélard from Auvergne reveals the delicacy of its small tubular beak which, once the pottery has been tilted, allowed walnut oil to be poured into the oil lamps without losing a drop.](https://www.aux-rois-louis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PA074_316.webp)
![Two oil jugs, also called mélards, produced in Cantal in the 18th century These two jars come from neighboring Auvergne pottery centers. However, they are distinguished by their finish. The one on the left, fired in raw white clay and therefore porous, has allowed the oil to pass through it in places, while the one on the right has a water-green glaze which has in fact made it waterproof.](https://www.aux-rois-louis.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PA073_PA074_P1660312x1200.webp)