Covered stoneware pot signed Les poteries de la Vallée Noire

Here is a magnificent 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 which 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 stoneware, with a rather original shape (a handle in the shape of a handle and a knob handle) and for the enameling, a marvelous enameling in shades of gray and brown with a touch of light green on the lid. This very particular enameling was called "Gris de Verneuil". Difficult to date this ceramic, because I have not found the date of resumption of the workshop but it was not part of the ceramics of the last period which they include a more complete marking affixed to the stamp instead of the letters VN engraved by hand. When I found this ceramic, I didn't see the VN monogram at first (not very visible on the slightly chamotte stoneware at the bottom), but this glaze caught my eye, so beautiful, so particular, and it was only when cleaning the pot that I noticed the monogram. I imagine that it was originally a pickle pot with the handle that received the wooden tongs. But today, this covered pot could find many uses, candy dish, sugar bowl, coarse salt pot, box for cotton pads or simply ceramic to display to complete a collection or satisfy your passion for beautiful ceramics. This ceramic is in very good condition, no defects on the pot and just a chip and a small chip under the edge of the lid, very little visible and no longer at all when the lid is placed on the pot. The pot measures 13 cm in height, 16 cm in width from one handle to the other, 11 cm in diameter. With the lid the whole thing measures 17 cm in height.