Antique Chinese apothecary jar w/ lid – No. 1

Antique glazed storage jar from Guangdong Province, China, dating to around 1880. Originally used to store dried orange peel for traditional Chinese medicine.

The dark brown glaze shows lighter brown tones, vertical tonal variations and small speckles throughout, with visible age-related wear. It contrasts with the original unglazed earthenware lid, giving the jar its particularly raw character.

The simple cylindrical shape and substantial lid make these jars beautiful standalone objects, while different sizes work especially well grouped together.

height 27cm, diameter 25cm
origin: Guangdong Province, China
age: c1880
material: earthenware

The story behind the jar:
Chenpi (陳皮) is dried and aged orange peel, traditionally used in Chinese medicine and cooking. Guangdong, and particularly the Xinhui region, has a long history of producing and storing Chenpi, where the peel is valued more highly as it ages.