Working Stiffs | Honest pottery shaped by daily use
Some pieces of French country pottery arrive looking almost too perfect. This isn't one of them, and that is precisely why we love it.
This wonderful early 19th century Provencal cruche dates from around the 1820s and was made as a hardworking piece of everyday country pottery. Thrown from heavy terracotta, it has the wonderfully bulbous form typical of these traditional French water vessels, originally finished with a warm toffee coloured glaze.
At some point during its long working life, the upper handle was broken away. Rather than being discarded, the old cruche was given another life. It was painted in that unmistakable French country blue, with lighter blue vertical stripes, and put back to work.
Two hundred years later, you can still read that story in the surface.
The blue paint has worn and chipped through years of use, allowing the original toffee glaze and warm terracotta beneath to show through. The result is wonderfully irregular, with layers of colour, texture and age that give the piece the feeling of rustic French folk art.
There is also an old crack, entirely in keeping with a vessel that has spent two centuries being handled, filled, moved and used. This isn't pristine pottery; it is surviving pottery.
And perhaps that is the most charming thing about it.
It is easy to imagine this old cruche sitting in a Provençal kitchen or farmhouse, being used year after year before eventually becoming something cherished rather than simply useful. The missing handle, worn paint, old crack and accumulated patina are not faults to us; they are the evidence of a useful life.
This is a true Working Stiff, pottery shaped by daily use, repaired, reused and loved.
Today, it would make a wonderful decorative piece for a French country, rustic farmhouse or European country interior. Filled with dried flowers or simply left to stand alone, its beautifully imperfect shape and layered blue and toffee colouring bring instant character to a room.
Details
- Object: Antique French Provencal Cruche
- Date: Circa 1820s
- Material: Heavy hand thrown terracotta
- Glaze: Original toffee coloured glaze
- Later decoration: French country blue paint with lighter blue stripes
- Height: 8 inches / 20 cm
- Width: 11 inches / 28 cm, including remaining handle and spout
- Condition: Historic crack, chipped/worn paint and missing upper handle, all reflecting its long working life
Shipping
UK Postage £11.00
Packed with pride in 100% recycled packaging.
Click and Collect is also available from our shop. This is an option at checkout.
Shipping Notice
Due to the fragile nature and unique artisanal importance of our 19th century pottery, these items are currently available for UK Shipping only to ensure they arrive safely. However, our Antique French Linens and other items remain available for Worldwide Delivery.