Provencal Jars
Preserving a Tradition
Since the 16th century, the town of Biot in the Provence region of Southern France has been famous for its iconic olive oil jars. Beginning in the 1500s, cultivation of olive trees in Southern France fueled the demand for jars in which to store and transport the pressed olive oil.
The dense beige colored clay of Biot was ideal for the production of these storage jars because it repelled absorption. Their classic teardrop shape was designed to facilitate storage and ease of transport. It is said that the rim of the jars was glazed to help repel insects – when the jars were buried in the ground to the neck for storage and insects tried to access the wooden top used to seal the jar, they would slip down the glazed enamel of the rim. Glazing the rim and the interior of the jar also prevented oil and other liquids from seeping into the clay.
Biot jars were the first olive oil jars to be shipped throughout the Mediterranean and it is said, interestingly, that the Italians were the best customers. Ships sailed from the nearby port of Antibes under the protection of the Knights of Malta and sailed as far away as the Caribbean. While storage of olive oil was the primary use of the Biot Jars, they were also used to store and transport flour, dry beans, and other food products.
Traditional Craftsmanship
For over 500 years, generations of craftsmen have produced these jars using traditional methods. The artisanal traditions were passed down from father to son and dynasties of potters spanned the generations, reaching its peak in the 17th and 18th century when over 40 potters could be found in the village. By the end of the 19th century, advances in manufacturing techniques, modern improvements in transportation and the replacement of clay with metals and plastics, caused the industry to decline and by 1910, only five potteries remained in operation. In the 1920’s, however, pottery in Biot experienced a revival, transitioning from utilitarian objects to decorative garden vases. After 1945, the artisanal pottery of Biot once again resurged in popularity as renowned artists and skilled artisans continued to develop and innovate their craft.
ARTISINAL PRODUCTION
Using traditional artisanal techniques to create the Biot jar, the potter sets up an internal wooden mold know as a “skeleton” which can be assembled like legos. A hemp rope is wrapped around the wooden mold. The clay is then hand-pressed onto the rope from bottom to top to form the jar shape. The outside of the jar is then smoothed by hand and the lip added.
Once the outside of the jar is completed, the skeleton is dismantled from the top leaving the clay stuck to the rope. The rope is then removed when the clay begins to dry and harden. This is why the inside of each jar retains the imprint of the rope, rolling up from bottom to collar. Since they are hand formed, each jar is slightly different, a unique creation of a master craftsman.
Artisan Quality
Our jars from Les Jarres de Provence in Biot are made in the same time honored tradition. In fact, each and every jar is made by only one man, master craftsman David Fanton, who continues the tradition of over 500 years of craftsmanship. Each jar is a unique work of art by Monsieur Fanton and displays the stamp of his atelier “Les Jarres de Provence”.
Seibert and Rice is proud to support this time honored tradition and has selected a beautiful range of traditional glazes for our collection. While no longer used for storage and transport, these iconic jars are now elegant decorative elements and planters used in homes and gardens of distinction throughout the world.