Chinese Storage Vessel / Planter

Glazed the color of strong tea and built to take a beating.

Chinese potters made this storage vessel in pottery in the mid 19th century. Large glazed jars like this were commonly used for water, grain, or pickles, and many have been given a second life as planters. The deep brown glaze flows thick near the neck and thins to a lighter amber below, where fine horizontal ribbing shows through. A flat, thick rim frames the opening. Small chips and bare patches near the base show the clay beneath.

About 21 inches tall and 27 across. A rich, glossy presence for a garden or a hallway.