A 19th century French confit pot or egg pot with rare periwinkle blue exterior glaze and white interior glaze, circa 1890s, from Martres-Tolosone, a small village in southwest France near Toulouse, renowned for the pottery manufacturers called Faïenceries de Martres-Tolosane. The pottery or earthenware factories of Martres-Tolosane were established during the 18th century on the banks of the Garonne River, where clay deposits suitable for making earthenware were found. During the 18th century, there were a dozen Martraise earthenware factories listed, but the French Revolution and competition from England caused production to slow, leaving only two factories remaining by 1790.

Originally used for preserving fruits or vegetables and to store eggs, this utilitarian egg pot has a stunning blue glaze and two handles, referred to as ears, for easy transport. Beautifully decorative, it will be a wonderful addition to any collection and add a touch of French Country charm wherever it is placed.

French confit pots having a blue glaze like this one are not to be confused with typical confit pots that have brightly colored glazes only on the top half. Both have similar uses but the blue glazed pots did not store meat or get buried. They had a type of glaze known as terre de fer or ironstone giving them their lustrous blue hue because of iron being mixed in the glaze. They were considered the poor man’s Faience because the majority of French people couldn't afford the expensive form of tin-glazed ceramics known as faience.

Dimensions:

h - 9.25"

w - 9.25" handle to handle

d - 4" bottom

mouth - 6"