Glazed Pottery Vase with Handles (Great Smoky Mountains inspired)

This is a pottery vase, likely hand-crafted, featuring a deep, glossy dark blue glaze over most of its body, transitioning to a lighter, possibly unfinished or less intensely glazed section at the base. The vase stands approximately 8 inches tall and has a diameter of 4 to 5 inches at its widest point. Its form is somewhat bulbous at the bottom, tapering inward towards a narrower waist, and then flaring gently outwards towards the rim. A distinctive feature of this vase is the presence of two prominent, curved handles, one on each side, which rise from the lower body of the vase and arch upwards to just below the rim. These handles are also glazed in the same dark blue. The interior of the vase appears to match the dark blue glaze of the exterior, suggesting a uniform application. The pottery exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish, indicative of a well-fired glaze. There are no readily visible chips, cracks, or significant wear on the glazed surface from the provided image. The base, as hinted by the lighter area, might be unglazed or a different texture/color, which could potentially reveal maker's marks or the raw clay. Given the context 'Great Smoky Mountains, pottery vase', this item likely originates from an artisan workshop in or around that region, suggesting it could be a piece of functional art or decorative ware reflecting local craft traditions. The design is somewhat rustic yet elegant, and the craftsmanship appears to be of good quality, with symmetrical handles and an even glaze application.