Antique Italian Glazed Terracotta Olive Oil Jar with Spout

Early Art Deco period pewter vase displays the form of the Art Nouveau period, but with more classic and what was considered "modern" embellishment at the time. Foliate sprays are bo...

Graceful in form and richly detailed, this pair of Boch Frères Keramis lidded urns has remained in a private collection for over a century, preserving both their integrity and their ...

This impressive antique French glazed terracotta olive oil jar was crafted in Provence, Southern France, circa 1870. Traditionally used for the storage and dispensing of oil, the vessel embodies the classic ovoid form associated with 19th century Provençal jarres à huile, featuring a full rounded body that rises to a short collar neck and tapers to a narrow foot. Two sturdy vertical strap handles are applied high at the shoulder for balanced lifting, and the jar retains its original molded ceramic spout near the base, designed for controlled decanting into smaller vessels. The surface is dressed in a richly variegated honey and deep ochre glaze, generously applied across the upper body and thinning organically toward the lower section, allowing the warm terracotta ground to emerge. Visible throwing rings, natural glaze runs, kiln speckling, and mineral deposits attest to its hand-thrown construction and authentic utilitarian past. Honest chips, glaze losses, and surface wear throughout reinforce its genuine antique character and rustic Provençal appeal. Impressive in both scale and silhouette, this antique French oil jar...

Not all antique Italian glazed Olive Oil Jars or Vases are created equal and this particular Olive Oil jar’s colors are simply beyond spectacular. Dating from the late 1800’s and discovered in a field in the south of Italy by an old friend. Most people refer to these as amphora jars, beginning in the Neolithic Period and running from approximately 9000BC to 3500BC. Generally, Amphorae were used in large numbers to transport Olive Oil and Wine. The design trade and most antique dealers simply call these vessels or Olive Oil Jars. For us, we look at the Olive Oil Jars as pieces of sculpture and they are as good looking outdoors as they are in your home. The color palette and the sheen of the glaze they are simply magical and create a truly great focal point. When we started in the antique business...