Wholesale Portuguese tin-glazed earthenware jug, white and blue, hand-painted floral decoration, Made in Portugal, second half of the 20th century

This Portuguese faience pitcher rests on a molded annular foot that gives it a stable and elegant base. The baluster-shaped body, ample and well proportioned, rises to a flared neck with a pinched pouring spout. The wide, comfortable ribbon handle is highlighted by a cobalt-blue stripe that also runs along the rim of the neck and the foot. The decoration, entirely hand-painted, unfolds over the whole surface in three distinct registers. On the neck, a bouquet of stylized flowers with elongated petals and finely veined leaves occupies the main face. On the body, two symmetrical floral compositions repeat the same vocabulary, with five-petaled flowers and gently curling stems. The reverse of the neck bears a smaller motif, also hand-painted. The cobalt blue, of a beautiful intensity, contrasts with the creamy white background of the glazed faience. A band of small black dots emphasizes the junction between the neck and the body. Height 20 cm. The base bears the handwritten inscription "Made in Portugal, Hand Painted", the model number 16 and the initials LM of the painter or workshop. Good overall condition. Placed on a sideboard, a shelf or a dining table, this pitcher brings the warmth of Portuguese blue-and-white into an interior. Light plays on the glossy glaze and makes the cobalt vibrate with particular intensity.