Jar

Art Historical Context

This unassuming yet elegant jar, crafted by an unknown French artisan in the 13th or 14th century, a window into everyday medieval life. Standing just over 6 inches tall and wide, its compact form suggests it was likely used for storing spices, grains, or liquids in a household or workshop. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art department, it entered the collection as a generous gift from J. Pierpont Morgan 1917, preserving a slice of France's ceramic heritage. Made of earthenware—a sturdy, low-fired clay abundant in medieval Europe—the jar showcases slip decoration, a popul...