Chinese Storage Vessel / Planter

A scatter of dark spots, as if caught in the first drops of rain.

This storage vessel or planter comes from Guangdong Province, China, and dates to the early 20th century. It is glazed pottery. In southern China, large jars of this kind stood in courtyards and kitchens, catching rainwater or holding rice and other staples. The glaze is a deep honey brown, dappled with round marks across the belly and fading to a dull band near the foot. A wide, bare rim carries a dark smudge at the front. Thirty-three inches high and 41 in diameter.

More rain would not trouble it.