A distinctive mid-19th-century antique ceramic yeast pot from Grottaglie in Puglia, Southern Italy, decorated using the traditional smammriato technique. Originally used to store lievito madre, or mother yeast, this rustic farmhouse vessel combines the unique splatter-glazed finish with the practical form of traditional Puglian domestic pottery.
The surface features splashes of pistachio-green set against a warm buttermilk-coloured base. The smammriato decoration is associated with a traditional approach to ceramic finishing in which additional colours were applied with small branches or leafy brushes, creating an irregular, individual pattern.
The rounded terracotta body is accompanied by its original lid, which has a chip missing, as shown in the photographs. Its naturally aged surface and subtle handmade irregularities speak to its history as a functional vessel in traditional rural life.
Today, this unusual piece makes a characterful decorative object for a kitchen, dining room or shelf, and looks particularly good displayed alongside other antique Southern Italian pottery.
Details
Period: Mid-19th century, circa 1850s
Origin: Grottaglie Puglia, Southern Italy
Found: Lecce, Puglia
Material: Terracotta / ceramic
Original use: Storage of mother yeast (lievito madre)
Decoration: Traditional smammriato splatter effect
Colours: Pistachio green and buttermilk
Form: Rounded pot with original lid
Dimensions: H24 × W18 × D18 cm
Authentic antique condition with natural surface variation and signs of age and use. The original lid has a repair, as noted above. Glaze irregularities and surface wear contribute to the character of this historic piece. Please refer to the photographs for a close view of the condition. Colour may vary slightly from screen to screen.
A distinctive mid-19th-century antique ceramic yeast pot from Grottaglie in Puglia, Southern Italy, decorated using the traditional smammriato technique. Originally used to store lievito madre, or mother yeast, this rustic farmhouse vessel combines the unique splatter-glazed finish with the practical form of traditional Puglian domestic pottery.
The surface features splashes of pistachio-green set against a warm buttermilk-coloured base. The smammriato decoration is associated with a traditional approach to ceramic finishing in which additional colours were applied with small branches or leafy brushes, creating an irregular, individual pattern.
The rounded terracotta body is accompanied by its original lid, which has a chip missing, as shown in the photographs. Its naturally aged surface and subtle handmade irregularities speak to its history as a functional vessel in traditional rural life.
Today, this unusual piece makes a characterful decorative object for a kitchen, dining room or shelf, and looks particularly good displayed alongside other antique Southern Italian pottery.
Details
Period: Mid-19th century, circa 1850s
Origin: Grottaglie Puglia, Southern Italy
Found: Lecce, Puglia
Material: Terracotta / ceramic
Original use: Storage of mother yeast (lievito madre)
Decoration: Traditional smammriato splatter effect
Colours: Pistachio green and buttermilk
Form: Rounded pot with original lid
Dimensions: H24 × W18 × D18 cm
Authentic antique condition with natural surface variation and signs of age and use. The original lid has a repair, as noted above. Glaze irregularities and surface wear contribute to the character of this historic piece. Please refer to the photographs for a close view of the condition. Colour may vary slightly from screen to screen.
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