Antique French Confit Pot

Antique French glazed terracotta confit pot in very nice original condition with one broken handle. These pots were used primarily in the South of France for the preservation of meats such as duck or goose for dishes like cassoulet or foie gras. The bottom halves were left unglazed, due to the fact that the pots were half buried in the ground to keep the contents cooler and fresher. Chips and imperfections help authenticate these pots as they were utilitarian type pieces. The rarest and most desirable of the antique confit pots are those with a green glaze and those which are petite in size. France, late 19th century