Antique Giara 435 47” tall

This antique giara (large urn) is at least 100 years old and comes from Puglia in Southern Italy. These urns (giare is the plural!) were made by hand on a potter’s wheel and were used to store wine. A plate was cemented over the top to ensure that the wine did not sour. After all of the wine was drawn from the spigot, the cemented plate was broken off and the giara was reused.

This particular giara measures 47” tall, the spout is blocked but it has “ONOFRIO FIORE” inscribed on the side. The spout and the bottom have been repaired with a whiter clay.