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Mid 19th Century French Olive Jar from Biot
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$4,000. for 29" Olive Jar
item #590582
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Mid 19th Century Olive Jar from the Biot, a small village from the South of France. H: 29" Diameter: 22"
The region of these Olive Jars are from Biot, a small village from the South of France, although its roots date back some 2,500 years, Biot was already known as a Potters’ Village during Roman times. Written mention of Biot (derived from Buzoto or Bisoto) has been found in a number of manuscripts, belonging to the then Bishop of Antibes and dating back to the 12th century. Towards the end of the 19th century, clay pots used for transporting foodstuffs , especially for olives the marketplace slowed down. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that Biot resumed its expansion, with the development of glassworks and decorative pottery. Classified as “City and Trade of Art”, it is renowned worldwide for its glass-blowing tradition, its international glass museum, the production of momumental earthenware jars and Olive Jars. The large earthenware jarres were made to store and transport olive oil and other local products. The first Jarres de Biot, were made on the Brague plaine near Antibes, and later at Biot, following the return of the Crusaders. In the 18th century, there were over 30 places around Biot still making the jarres.
The jarres are made by mixing the grey clay (terre grise) from Vaugrenier and the red clay (terre rouge) from Clausonnes. The jarres are made by hand, without mould or wheel. First the round bottom is layed out. Then circled ropes of clay are stacked on top, sized to give the form of the jarre. When the form is complete, the clay is smoothed by hand, inside and ou, and the jarre is dried before going into the kiln at about 1000 °C. The final step is the varnish. The patina and or color of the Olive Jars are distinctive and the forms are unique from this region.
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