Dark Glazed Kitchen Jar

An opaque, black glaze coats the body of this petite kitchen jar, pooling at the sharp angle drawn by its high shoulders. The glazed vessel dates to the early 20th-century and was originally used for storing food and condiments in a provincial Qing-dynasty kitchen, as evidenced by its interior glaze. The wide-mouth jar has a tapered cylindrical form with angular shoulders, two small strap handles, and a rounded lip at the opening. Nearing the base of jar, the black glaze becomes textured with drips and ripples, cascading across firing imperfections and the banded pattern of the ceramic form. The small glazed jar exemplifies the timeless appeal of handcrafted pottery and is ideal as a vase or tabletop planter.