NINETEENTH-CENTURY MARALPINA VESSEL

This magnificent stoneware vessel from the mid-19th century was thrown near Nice, an area with a long pottery tradition dating back to the Greek colonization of pre-Roman Gaul. Its original function was likely for washing utensils, a purpose facilitated by its shallow depth and considerable width, resulting in perfect ergonomics. Its pleasing proportions were refined by successive generations of ceramic artisans, bestowing upon it the serene beauty and superlative size that make it the focal point of any setting.