Topic: Large heavy stoneware lidded container

[Anne E.B.]

Spotted this yesterday and had to have it although I haven't a clue what to do with it.  I think its salt glaze stoneware.  10" high(excluding the thick wooden lid with inverted handles) and really heavy weighing 5kg.  I'm not sure what it might have been originally used for..  The inside has a shiny glaze, so presumably for dried foodstuffs?  Fortunately there is a maker's mark which looks like "jemmy" along with the number 7.  I'm not sure what the significance of the number is. Perhaps something to do with capacity, or may be just size 7. 

I've searched variations of "jemmy" but can't find a thing. Does it ring a bell with anyone?  It looks to be quite old, and possibly Continental.
TIA

[Anne]

Hi Anne, I used to have one of these without the lid - in fact I may still have it in the garden somewhere!  I was told they were used to preserve eggs in isinglass before fridges. I don't recall mine having a stamp on it though it looks the same shape and handles etc.

[Anne E.B.]

Thanks for for that t'other Anne   I had to look up "isinglass" as I've never heard of it before.  I wonder if the eggs had to be boiled first?  I remember pickled eggs in large jars on pub counters years ago.  Don't see them these days but then there aren't many pubs left.

[Anne]

Nope, it was a way to preserve raw uncooked eggs Anne. See here for the how to (if you fancy giving it a go) https://www.cooksinfo.com/preserving-eggs

I used to keep my potatoes in my big pot.

[Anne E.B.]

Many thanks for that . Really interesting.  I think I might try storing potatoes in it.  The lid isn't airtight, so should be okay.  I have a problem storing them.  After a week in a dark corner of the garage, they start sprouting which is really annoying and costly!  So I'll see if the pot works for them.  I've got another smaller stoneware salt glaze pot with handles in the garden with succulents growing in it.  I never drilled a hole in the bottom, but the succulents don't seem to mind and they come up every year without fail.

[Anne]

Some of mine sprouted after a while too Anne. I keep them in the bottom drawer of my huge fridge now which seems to keep them unsprouted for much longer.

[Anne E.B.]

Found it   Its not "Jemmy", but Bonny and made in the  Grès de Bonny Pottery in Bonny sur Loire, France.  Unfortunately I don't currently have it as its waiting its turn in a local auction house.    A set of them are shown here, but there are many more on the web https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294366872619?ViewItem=&item=294366872619

[Anne]

Well found Anne!