Mystery Pottery Item

[Newt]

I saw this in the shop of a man who makes handthrown pottery pieces and who does mostly very functional items such as mugs, plates, cooking pots, bird houses, etc. I had absolutely no idea what it might be used for although after he explained, it did make sense.

 

His mother was a potter in England who moved to the US when she was a young woman and many of the items Richard (now in his 70s) makes are based on designs he learned from her so this may be commonplace for you folks but I'm guessing not.

 

Any ideas what it might be? note that some will have an attached handle on the body away from the spout side although this particular one does not

 

[*Ant*]

Vinegar?

[*Ant*]

Olive oil?

[ayjay]

Just a jug is surely too obvious, I'm thinking the shape may have a specific purpose, like separating two different liquids maybe.

 

Gravy boat/jug?

[Snatcher]

No idea but a very skillful potter

[Dan]

I'll go with olive oil/salad dressing etc but is the shape importantant in the design?

[chevin]

Looks like it is meant to contain something that needs to adjust to the ambient temperature quickly.

 

Is it for red wine?

 

If the material was porous then the design of the jug could have used the latent heat principle to cool the contents. I am sure that the design has to be something to do with the temperature of the contents.

Edited November 13, 2005 by chevin

[Dan]

Looks like it is meant to contain something that needs to adjust to the ambient temperature quickly.

 

Is it for red wine?

 

If the material was porous then the design of the jug could have used the latent heat principle to cool the contents. I am sure that the design has to be something to do with the temperature of the contents.

 

 

Red wine needs to have contact with the air as well as being at room temp, so i doubt its for that.

 

If it were porous it would also absorb the contents, anyway it looks glazed to me!

Edited November 13, 2005 by Dan

[Eddie]

Whiskey? How big is it? Can you get your arm through the circle?

Edited November 13, 2005 by Eddie

[jeepster]

Red wine needs to have contact with the air as well as being at room temp, so i doubt its for that.

 

once red wine has been opened it only 'needs' contact with air for a short time, 30 minutes max, other than a couple of specific french reds which benefit from much longer exposure to air