Large French Confit Pot, Yellow Glaze

Period: 19th century

Size: 10¼ inches tall, 10 inches at the widest, 6⅞ inch opening, 4¼ inch base

A large confit pot from southwest France, glazed in ochre yellow on top and left as bare terracotta below. The pot was partly buried in cool earth for storage, with the glazed upper portion holding the food and the unglazed lower body staying porous against the soil. The yellow is one of the quintessential classic looks for the confit pot. The glaze loss, chips, and pale lime deposits come from age and use.

Historical Context

Confit pots take their name from the French confire, to preserve. They held cooked duck or goose packed under rendered fat, which is how meat was kept before refrigeration. Regional potters in the southwest made them in quantity, rarely marked, in yellow, green, and brown glazes.

Styling Ideas

It stands on its own as a sculptural object. Group it with other confit pots across sizes and glaze colors, or use it as a vessel for branches or kitchen utensils. The bare terracotta base grounds it against white or wood.