Oil jars, also known as amphorae, have a long and fascinating history dating back to ancient times. The earliest evidence of amphorae dates back to around 3500 BC in the ancient Near East (a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East). They were originally used to store and transport various goods, including olive oil, wine, olives and grain. They would have had wooden tops to help with the preservation of these contents, however these have not survived.
The main styling of the jars was for them to be high shouldered and short necked, however the design of them evolved with different cultures adapting the jars to meet their own needs. For instance, in Egypt they adapted the design of the jar so that it had a long pointy base; this enabled people to push the jars into the sand to help with stabilising the jar, but also to help keep the contents inside the jar cool.
Handles were added to push poles through to lift and carry, rather like a sedan chair, particularly useful for the heavier jars. Because of the size of the jars and the weight of the contents, banding was added to some to help with the structural integrity of the jar (they also aided with manoeuvring them about as created something else to grip). They were originally glazed on the inside so commodities would not leach, however unfortunately for the consumers, they did this with a lead content in the glaze, which must have caused quite a few side effect issues (we still glaze the inside of some of our jars, though obviously no longer with lead!).
In ancient Greece, as well as in other places, amphorae were used to store and transport olive oil, which was a highly valued commodity. The Greeks however developed a standardized system for producing and measuring the volume of oil in these jars, with different shapes and sizes denoting different measurements.
As the contents of these jars were mostly high value, estates/families started to ‘brand’ them with, amongst other symbols, their family crest, to show the ownership. This helped protect them and also lead the way to show off their wealth as a status symbol.
As the use of amphorae became less practical in everyday life, they began to be repurposed as decorative objects in gardens and public spaces: evidence of which can be traced all the way back to ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean region, such as the Greeks and the Romans: In ancient Rome, for example, amphorae were often used as ornamental fountains and water features, where water would spout from the mouth of the jar and into a pool or basin below.
The use of oil jars as decorative objects continued through the medieval period and into the Renaissance, where they became highly prized, with many being painted with elaborate designs, and were often used in formal gardens and courtyards as planters and decorative elements. In some cases, these jars were even imported from other parts of the world as luxury items, adding to their value as status symbols.
Today, these antique amphorae are highly sought after by collectors and can fetch high prices at auction. Oil jars still remain a popular decorative element in many garden styles, from traditional Mediterranean gardens to contemporary landscape designs. Their iconic shapes and the fact that they are mainly still produced in traditional terracotta, means the use of them seems to conjure up a sense of history, more so than a pot or planter, as well as the old feeling of wealth and status.
Here are some examples of different ways designers have used our Oil Jars within their different projects. Click through on each image to view in more detail as well as link through to that product.
We hope you have found this as fascinating as we did, if you have any questions or would like some advice, of any sort, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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