A rare mid-19th-century antique Italian confit pot from Calabria, Southern Italy, featuring a distinctive hand-painted Tree of Life motif in ink blue. Traditionally known as a vasetto, this rustic farmhouse vessel was originally used for preserving foods such as anchovies, sardines, figs and olives in olive oil.
What makes this piece particularly unusual is its spontaneous blue Tree of Life decoration. These traditional motifs were more commonly painted in green, making the ink-blue version especially distinctive. The simple abstract tree is beautifully expressive, reflecting the individual hand of the artisan who decorated the vessel.
The Tree of Life was traditionally associated with good fortune, longevity and the hope of a plentiful harvest. On these humble domestic vessels, the motif adds a symbolic quality to an otherwise practical piece of Southern Italian farmhouse pottery.
Beautifully aged through generations of everyday use, the hand-thrown ceramic has developed an authentic rustic patina that gives the surface its individual character. The simplicity of the form and spontaneous decoration make this one-of-a-kind vasetto particularly evocative.
Today, it makes a beautiful decorative vessel or vase for fresh or dried flowers. Pair it with other antique Southern Italian confit pots and Tree of Life vessels for a collected Mediterranean display.
Found in Martina Franca, in Puglia's Valle d'Itria, this Calabrian vessel is a wonderful example of the diverse Southern Italian ceramics discovered by Rivesto.
Details
Period: Mid-1800s
Origin: Calabria, Southern Italy
Found in: Martina Franca, Valle d'Itria, Puglia
Material: Hand-thrown ceramic / terracotta
Traditional form: Vasetto / confit pot
Decoration: Hand-painted Tree of Life motif
Colour: Ink blue
Original use: Food preservation
Features: Two-handled farmhouse form and rustic aged patina
Dimensions: H27 × W22 × D19 cm
As with all Rivesto antique ceramics, this piece is perfectly imperfect. Cracks, chips, discolouration and other signs of age may be present and form part of its authentic character and history. If using as a vase, we recommend placing a separate watertight vessel or glass vials inside. Please note that colours may vary slightly from screen to screen.
A rare mid-19th-century antique Italian confit pot from Calabria, Southern Italy, featuring a distinctive hand-painted Tree of Life motif in ink blue. Traditionally known as a vasetto, this rustic farmhouse vessel was originally used for preserving foods such as anchovies, sardines, figs and olives in olive oil.
What makes this piece particularly unusual is its spontaneous blue Tree of Life decoration. These traditional motifs were more commonly painted in green, making the ink-blue version especially distinctive. The simple abstract tree is beautifully expressive, reflecting the individual hand of the artisan who decorated the vessel.
The Tree of Life was traditionally associated with good fortune, longevity and the hope of a plentiful harvest. On these humble domestic vessels, the motif adds a symbolic quality to an otherwise practical piece of Southern Italian farmhouse pottery.
Beautifully aged through generations of everyday use, the hand-thrown ceramic has developed an authentic rustic patina that gives the surface its individual character. The simplicity of the form and spontaneous decoration make this one-of-a-kind vasetto particularly evocative.
Today, it makes a beautiful decorative vessel or vase for fresh or dried flowers. Pair it with other antique Southern Italian confit pots and Tree of Life vessels for a collected Mediterranean display.
Found in Martina Franca, in Puglia's Valle d'Itria, this Calabrian vessel is a wonderful example of the diverse Southern Italian ceramics discovered by Rivesto.
Details
Period: Mid-1800s
Origin: Calabria, Southern Italy
Found in: Martina Franca, Valle d'Itria, Puglia
Material: Hand-thrown ceramic / terracotta
Traditional form: Vasetto / confit pot
Decoration: Hand-painted Tree of Life motif
Colour: Ink blue
Original use: Food preservation
Features: Two-handled farmhouse form and rustic aged patina
Dimensions: H27 × W22 × D19 cm
As with all Rivesto antique ceramics, this piece is perfectly imperfect. Cracks, chips, discolouration and other signs of age may be present and form part of its authentic character and history. If using as a vase, we recommend placing a separate watertight vessel or glass vials inside. Please note that colours may vary slightly from screen to screen.
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