Tapered Kitchen Jar

Originally used to store foods or pickle vegetables in a provincial Chinese kitchen, this late 19th-century ceramic jar is coated inside and out with a richly-colored dark glaze. The thin glaze drips down the sides, allowing the ripples of its spun manufacture to show and revealing a wide range of tonal colors, from warm brown to cool navy. The jar has a slightly tapered, asymmetrical form with a narrow base, high shoulders, and constricted neck. Speckled with imperfections, this glazed pot exemplifies the timeless appeal of handcrafted pottery.