Antique French Demijohn Bonbonne Green Glass Wood Basket 20102622

French demijohn in wood basket

A French demijohn in wood basket -- known in France as a bonbonne -- blown in deep emerald green glass and fitted from the start inside its original protective casing of vertical oak slats bound by iron hoops. Large glass vessels of this kind were the workhorses of the French countryside for generations, used to transport and store wine, cider and vinegar from farm cellars to market, and this example retains every element of its original travel armor intact.

The green glass neck rises cleanly from a turned iron collar ring that once bore a painted label -- traces of red pigment are still clearly visible -- and the slat-and-hoop barrel is packed with original straw between glass and wood, exactly as it left the cooperage. Two wire handles with red-painted grips curve out from either side, making the piece easy to lift and giving it a frank, graphic silhouette that works equally well as a floor accent, a kitchen shelf focal point or a vase for tall dried botanicals. The handsome, chunky rolled lip is unground and consistent with early twentieth-century production.

Condition and patina consistent with age. The wood shows natural weathering and slight splitting in a few slats; the iron collar has surface oxidation and worn paint typical of a century of use. The green glass is intact with no cracks.

Approx. 8.7 in wide x 13.0 in tall (22 x 33 cm).

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