{"product_id":"antique-french-walnut-oil-jug-melard-a-bec-two-handles","title":"Antique French Walnut Oil Jug, Mélard à Bec, Two Handles","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e 19th century, French\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 inches tall, 13 inches wide\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA terracotta walnut oil jug, a mélard à bec, with two arched strap handles rising from the rim to the shoulder, a short pouring spout on a flared disc collar, and a plain rolled rim. The handles are pulled with three ridges along their length, and raised ribs run down the body in vertical bands. The lead glaze is a warm amber brown, deepening to olive where it pools beside the ribs and along the shoulder, with a glossy surface over most of the body. The base is bare red clay, and the throwing rings show inside the neck. Both handles and the spout are intact. Glaze losses are limited to small flakes on the body, handles and rim, with chipping at the spout tip. There is a small hole drilled through the center of the base, from a later conversion, which does not show when the jug is standing. Wear consistent with age and use, sold as found.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Context\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJugs like this held walnut oil, the everyday cooking oil across central France, Auvergne, Limousin and the Périgord, where walnut trees grew and olives did not. A full jug was heavy, so the handles are wide and set high for a two-handed lift, and the spout let it be poured without tipping the whole thing. The ribs were applied by hand in wet clay, and the amber comes from iron in the lead glaze, fired over red earthenware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyling Ideas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA floor or hearth piece. Stand it beside a fireplace or at the base of a console, or use it in a kitchen with tall branches. Paired with the three-handled jug the two read as a set with the glaze doing the contrast.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"foundresse","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57294654931110,"sku":"FD-064-075","price":864.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0637\/7645\/6870\/files\/340D8C44-CE84-4220-A03A-30B1320E591F.jpg?v=1788884178","url":"https:\/\/foundresse.com\/products\/antique-french-walnut-oil-jug-melard-a-bec-two-handles","provider":"foundresse","version":"1.0","type":"link"}