A charming and capacious 19th-century walnut oil jug originating from the Dordogne region of south-west France, and decorated with a gorgeously glossy nut-brown glaze. Three shaped and grooved side handles encircle the wide rim, with a handcrafted pouring spout on one side which has been further embellished by the addition of an applied and pinched border. Originally conceived for the storage and preservation of nut oils in a country kitchen, it may also have been used to store and serve cool drinking water. This handsome vessel has aged beautifully over the centuries – its chips, scuffs and indentations telling the fascinating story of its long and valued life in a Provençal home.