Early 20th-century Cluny jaspé glazed earthenware pitcher 8"

This early 20th-century water pitcher from Poterie Bertoux de Cluny (stamped underneath) showcases the distinctive jaspé glaze technique, with its bold ochre background adorned with green, blue, and beige splashes. The rounded form, enhanced by a gracefully curved handle with decorative pressed patterns, reflects the region’s traditional earthenware aesthetics. Jaspe pottery, named for its mottled or streaked surface was widely used in rural France for functional yet decorative tableware, with each piece uniquely patterned through free-poured glaze applications.

Poterie Bertoux was one of Cluny’s notable pottery workshops, active during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cluny, situated in southern Burgundy near Mâcon, was a regional hub for glazed earthenware production, benefiting from abundant local clay and established trade routes. Val de Saône-Mâconnais pottery, to which this piece belongs, often features bright yellow or ochre tones on reddish or brown backgrounds, with designs inspired by Gallo-Roman forms. The industry thrived until the 1930s but declined due to industrial production, with the last workshop closing in 1968. Today, examples of Bertoux pottery are preserved in the Musée des Ursulines in Mâcon.