Hand-Painted Ceramic Sunflower Planter or Jar

This item is a small, hand-painted ceramic vessel, likely intended as a decorative planter, votive holder, or small storage jar. It features a bulbous body that tapers toward a flared rim, a shape commonly associated with folk-style pottery. The base color is a vibrant cobalt blue, which serves as a high-contrast backdrop for a large, central sunflower motif. The sunflower is rendered in earthy tones, with yellow petals and a large brown center, applied with visible, somewhat primitive brushwork that suggests artisanal or amateur production rather than mass-market manufacturing. This piece is likely crafted from low-fire earthenware or stoneware. The condition is poor to fair, showing significant signs of wear and age. Notable condition issues include substantial glaze loss and chipping along the top rim and across the central sunflower design, revealing the lighter ceramic body beneath. There are also smaller surface scuffs and blue pigment splatters on the yellow petals, indicating a less refined finishing process. Its folk-art aesthetic suggests a late 20th-century origin, possibly a piece of souvenir pottery or a hobbyist project. The lack of visible maker's marks in the current orientation prevents a specific studio attribution.