The item for sale is a large and heavy earthenware bottle shaped pot that was made in China during the late nineteenth century.  The purpose of the item was to store or perhaps ferment rice wine.  The container may have been buried at some point as evinced by the white mineral deposits present.  The surface is decorated with small scarification marks covering the upper part.  There are three decorative bands around the middle.  There are  other marks on the outside that may be minor damage but a swirl in the glaze may have been put there deliberately. The glaze is thick and olive brown color.  The height and width are about 19 in and 15 in.  The weight is 30.3 lbs.