Glazed Kitchen Jar

As evidenced by the interior glaze, this wide-mouth jar was once used in a provincial Qing-dynasty kitchen for storing food and condiments. The vessel has a gently tapered form, with sloped shoulders, small strap handles and a defined, straight neck. The speckled brown glaze has a soft sheen and deepens in color as it sheets and pools across the textured ceramic body, lightly crazed and textured by firing imperfections. Little details add to the jar's fantastic character, such as the Chinese character etched onto the shoulder and the unglazed rim, demonstrating the timeless appeal of handcrafted pottery.