Chinese Wine Storage Jar

Honey-brown drips slide over the shoulders of this broad, comfortable jar.

This glazed pottery wine storage jar from Shanxi is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the early 19th century. Shanxi Province in northern China has a long history of pottery making, and its kilns have produced practical vessels for storing food and drink. Wide, rounded jar with a short flared neck and two faint incised lines around the belly. A glossy amber finish drips down the upper half, while the lower body is matte gray-brown with a small orange mark. It is 12 inches high and 10.5 in diameter.

Plain, dependable, and a little runny at the top.