Vintage Biot Terracotta Butter Cooler: French Farmhouse Glazed Ceramic

This charming butter cooler was used in the days before refrigeration. Simply place the butter in the bell-shaped inner part and pour some cold water into the vessel. The water will surround the butter on all sides thanks to the holes in the inner part and the butter will stay cold for a long time. The butter dish is made of terracotta, endemic to the town of Biot in the south of France. Terracotta from this area has an unusual beige color. Since Biot jugs were traditionally used to store olives, the rim around the neck of the vessel was always glazed. This prevented the olives and oil from seeping into the terracotta. This inner glaze is a defining feature of Biot jugs, which have been making pottery for over 600 years. This butter cooler was made in the first half of the 20th century.This item can serve not only as a butter cooler, but also as a butter dish for serving. Either way, this piece will add a French farmhouse charm to your kitchen design or simply add a pop of color to your vintage ceramics collection. The vintage condition is good, but the piece has been used, so there is some glaze loss on the inside (photo 10).Dimensions approx.Height with lid 12 cm 4.7 inches.Height 8.7 cm 3.14 inches.Diameter 12 cm 4.7 inches.Diameter of the plate under the butter dish 16 cm 6.3 inches.