# Antique 19th Century Turkish Anatolian Earthenware Oil Jar
**Origin:** Central Anatolia, Turkey (Konya / Avanos region)**Period:** Late 19th Century (circa 1880–1899)**Material:** Coarse Red Earthenware / Terracotta with localized Lead Glaze**Est. Dimensions:** 13.5\" Height x 9\" Widest Diameter
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### ITEM OVERVIEW & ATTRIBUTIONThis is an authentic, late 19th-century utilitarian earthenware storage jar originating from the Anatolian province of Turkey. Wheel-thrown by a regional village potter, the vessel features a classic ovoid body, a heavily structured collar rim, and a single high-arched loop handle.
A thick, dark chocolate-brown lead glaze remains highly intact over the handle and the upper mouth, a functional historic technique applied to seal the porous clay where it was actively gripped and poured. Opposite the primary handle, a smooth circular scar shows where a secondary stabilizing side lug was lost during its active working lifetime, adding immense rustic character and honesty to the piece.
Historical Context and Functionality Overview. The Avanos and Cappadocia Clay Tradition: The rich red terracotta composition ties directly to the ancient potting communities centered around the Kizilirmak (Red River) in regions like Avanos.This iron-rich sediment has been actively harvested by potters in the region since the Bronze Age Hittite era, representing a 4,000-year-old cultural continuum. Every detail of the jar served a cultural, domestic purpose. The partial glazing technique around the rim and handle was culturally designed to protect the pitcher from absorbing oils, water, or spirits, keeping the vessel clean as it was passed around communal Turkish tables or hauled back from local storage cellars.This jar exudes intriguing historical character. It was secured from an affluent Washington, D.C.-area estate earlier this year, and requires a new home or professional setting to proudly display its absorbing rarity as an incredibly impressive piece of decor.
### PORTABILITY & VERSATILITY FOR DISPLAYUnlike massive, unmanageable floor amphoras, this medium-scaled vessel offers exceptional versatility and portability for home styling. Standing just over a foot tall, it is a convenient, lightweight accent piece that fits beautifully into narrow spaces, bookshelf layouts, kitchen counters, or mantels. The robust handle makes it highly portable, allowing you to easily rotate and restyle it through different design vignettes. It is a striking centerpiece for primitive, Wabi-Sabi, rustic European farmhouse, and Mediterranean interior design aesthetics.
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### 🔍 DETAILED CONDITION REPORTThis antique utilitarian vessel is in **Very Good vintage/antique condition**, boasting superb structural integrity and a solid, rock-hard foundation for a piece of its age and medium. There are **no structural cracks, no hairlines, and no repairs**.
**Honest, Age-Appropriate Utilitarian Wear Includes:*** **Surface Flaking:** Normal weathering and scaling to the thin exterior slip layer, exposing the beautifully textured, iron-rich terracotta body underneath.* **Mineral Calcification:** Traces of light gray and white calcium/lime buildup around the outer lip and inner neck from historic liquid storage.* **The Base:** The bottom exhibits extensive dark carbon soot and surface patina from decades of sitting on open hearths or cellar floors.* **The Secondary Lug:** Features a clean, historic, weathered break where a small secondary side handle originally sat. The edges have completely smoothed over decades of handling.
*Please review all high-resolution photos carefully as they constitute the absolute primary visual description of the item\'s condition and exact scale.*
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### 📦 SHIPPING & HANDLING LOGISTICS* **Box Dimensions:** Shipped securely in a heavy-duty 16\" x 16\" x 20\" box.* **Method:** Double-boxed with premium bubble-wrap suspension and thick packing peanuts to guarantee safe transit.* **Carrier:** Shipped via parcel service with full tracking and insurance included. Sold entirely as-is.
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