Soup tureen signed Les poteries de la Vallée Noire

Very beautiful ceramic soup tureen with a wonderful glaze in shades of grey, brown, taupe, milky white, and a slight pale green around the edge of the lid, typical glazing from the workshop "Les poteries de la Vallée Noire" in Verneuil-sur-Igneraie, which has been in existence since 1832 (previously the Mijoin workshop) but is now closed; it was the last potter in this town, which had 19 in the 19th century. It is a very fine piece of craftsmanship, both in the turning of the clay, the Berry stoneware, with an elegant and practical shape (the handles are "integrated, " so they are not at risk of breaking from a knock), and in the glazing, so distinctive that it has been named "Gris de Verneuil." It is difficult to date this ceramic, as I have not found the date of the workshop's revival, but it was not part of the ceramics from the last period, which had a more complete marking applied with a stamp instead of the letters VN, here engraved by hand under the base (with the number 20). This ceramic is in very good condition, with no cracks, no defects on the lid, just a tiny chip and a small flaw, possibly a manufacturing defect, on the edge of the tureen, not very visible and absolutely not bothersome for use on a table. The pot measures 11.5 cm in height, 21 cm in width from one handle to the other, and 19 cm in diameter. With the lid, the total height is 24.5 cm.