Chinese Wine Storage Jar

Mustard yellow shoulders and an earthy belly give this jar a sunny disposition.

This glazed pottery wine storage jar from Shanxi is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the early 19th century. Wine in China has traditionally been made from grain, and it was kept in large ceramic jars that could be sealed to protect the contents. Squat jar with a short ringed neck and a rounded body marked by shallow turning lines. The shoulder is glazed in yellow-ochre with a pink stripe, and the lower body is a dull brown with streaks. It is 11 inches high and 11 in diameter.

Cheerful on top, practical below, and sturdy throughout.