{"product_id":"antique-french-blue-cruche-early-19th-century-working-stiff-farmhouse-pottery","title":"Antique French Blue Cruche - Early 19th Century Working Stiff Farmhouse Pottery","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\n\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorking Stiffs | Honest pottery shaped by daily use\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome pieces of French country pottery arrive looking almost too perfect. This isn't one of them, and that is precisely why we love it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo hundred years later, you can still read that story in the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere 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 \u003cstrong\u003esurviving pottery\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd perhaps that is the most charming thing about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is a true Working Stiff, pottery shaped by daily use, repaired, reused and loved.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObject:\u003c\/strong\u003e Antique French Provencal Cruche\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Circa 1820s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heavy hand thrown terracotta\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGlaze:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original toffee coloured glaze\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLater decoration:\u003c\/strong\u003e French country blue paint with lighter blue stripes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 inches \/ 20 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 11 inches \/ 28 cm, including remaining handle and spout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Historic crack, chipped\/worn paint and missing upper handle, all reflecting its long working life\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUK Postage  £11.00 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003ePacked with pride in 100% recycled packaging.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClick and Collect\u003c\/strong\u003e is also available from our shop. This is an option at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eShipping Notice\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to the fragile nature and unique artisanal importance of our 19th century pottery, these items are currently available for \u003cstrong\u003eUK Shipping only\u003c\/strong\u003e to ensure they arrive safely. However, our Antique French Linens and other items remain available for Worldwide Delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dusty Gems 1","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48198469222558,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0087\/3984\/8251\/files\/bc2.jpg?v=1787757856","url":"https:\/\/dustygemsinteriors.co.uk\/products\/antique-french-blue-cruche-early-19th-century-working-stiff-farmhouse-pottery","provider":"Dusty Gems 1 ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}