Pair of jars ("cocios" or "barreños"), Spain, 18th century.

Pair of Spanish jars, 18th century. Known as "cocios" or "barreños", these were traditionally used for the collection and storage of water. There are many ancient pottery centres in Spain, most of which are no longer active. The shapes, sizes, decorations, etc., depended on the physical characteristics of the clays used, the final use of each piece, as well as the craftsmanship of each artisan. Our research allows us, barring any errors, to locate the origin of these jars to the village of Gea de Albarracín (Aragon, province of Teruel), an active centre until the mid-20th century and probably well before the 16th century, the date of the first writings mentioning it. These "cocios" exhibit similarities in shape, clay (relatively light), and characteristic "digital" cord (on which the potter's thumb marks are clearly visible), allowing them to be associated with the documented productions from this centre. The staples present on these jars, now become an aesthetic and decorative element, are witnesses to a time when objects were designed to last. These jars are sturdy and have reached us in a magnificent state of preservation. Some details on the neck (see photos) seem to correspond to a "signature" of the potter, not for artistic purposes, but to allow each potter to recognise their pottery at the end of the collectively conducted firing. A rare, exceptional, and magnificent lot!.