Spanish Terracotta Olive Jar with Manganese Drip Glaze – Antique Two-Handled Amphora, 35 cm Rustic F

Hand-thrown in coarse, iron-rich clay, this tall amphora once stood in a Spanish farmhouse pantry brimming with olives or new-pressed oil. The shoulder is plunged into a dark manganese glaze that tears down the body in inky drips, leaving the lower half raw and sun-bleached. Twin strap handles merge seamlessly into the neck, while tool marks and small firing scars narrate its working life. At 35 cm high, it is generous enough for dramatic dried stems, yet slim enough to perch on a console or hearth.

Before metal tins revolutionised food storage, Andalusian potters produced thousands of these jars by hand; most were discarded when terracotta gave way to steel. Surviving examples—complete with rim chips, lime bloom and kiln kisses—carry a century of agricultural history. Let this vessel anchor a modern rustic vignette, pair it with linen and rough timber, or leave it empty to celebrate its sculptural silhouette.

Condition

Good – structurally sound; rim nibbles, glaze losses, lime efflorescence and surface pitting consistent with age and outdoor use (adds authentic patina).

Dimensions

H 35 cm × W 25 cm (handle to handle) × D 20 cm (body).