Mortar, ashtray, empty pocket, stoneware signed Les poteries de la Vallée Noire

Here is a very beautiful ceramic with the monogram VN under the base, it is a creation of the workshop "Les poteries de la Vallée Noire" in Verneuil-sur-Igneraie, a workshop that would have existed since 1832 (previously Mijoin workshop) but which is now closed, it was the last potter in this town which had 19 in the 19th century. It is a very beautiful craftsmanship both for the shaping of the earth, the Berry sandstone, to give it this very particular, almost futuristic shape, and for the enameling, a marvelous enameling in gray and brown tones, which was apparently called "Gris de Verneuil". Impossible to date it, but it was not part of the ceramics of the last period which have a more complete marking affixed to the stamp instead of the letters VN engraved by hand. When I found this ceramic, I thought it was an ashtray with four cigarette holders, but after some research I realized that it was probably a mortar with a missing pestle. As I have been woodturning for a few years, I turned a boxwood pestle to go with this ceramic. So all uses are possible, mortar, ashtray, pocket emptier or simply ceramic to display to complete a collection or satisfy your passion for beautiful ceramics. This ceramic is in perfect condition, no cracks, no chips, not even a chip. It measures 15 cm wide and 6.5 cm high, its walls are about 8 mm thick, which makes it a very solid and heavy ceramic!.