Hi Paul,
        Yes, one can still see Biot storage jars in many courtyards throughout the
French Quarter in New Orleans. Fragments have also turned up in excavations
in N.O., and here in Mobile from late 18th-century to early 20th-century
contexts. The most recent find was the upper half of a jar used as a large
planter outside the entrance to a building on the Springhill College
(Jesuit) campus. Gulf coast merchants continued to import these jars (and
contents) and other French commodities long after the French colonial period
ended. They are still being imported by upscale antique dealers, and sell in
the Quarter for close to $2000 per jar.
Greg Waselkov
Mobile
USA

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of paul
courtney
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 12:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: oil jars


I have meaning to post this for the last 2 years but when I went to Mobile
SHA I took a side excursion by Greyhound to New Orleans and remember seeing
what looked like French Provencale (?Biot) oil jars being used as garden
furniture. Can someone confirm the attribution and give any other info.

paul courtney
leicester
UK