This handsome Asian-inspired Ben Owen vessel stands 4" high by 2.75" in diameter. It is glazed in a brownish tobacco spit glaze with a blush of green. This vessel is unusual in that it has a screw top lid, which we've not seen before on a Ben Owen pot. It looks like a grenade! It is possible that it was added later, but it is very well made and fits the vessel perfectly. It feels like wood, not clay. This vessel is well marked on the base as can be seen in the photos and likely dates to c1960s before Ben Owen retired in 1972. This pot is in original studio condition, with the usual glaze nuances of a handmade pot, but no apologies. This vessel is loaded with character and curiosity! 
According to the Ben Owen website, vintage works were made by Ben Owen Sr. between 1923-1972. Ben Owen Sr. was hired in 1923 as the second known potter to work at the newly built Jugtown Pottery. He was born in 1904, son of potter Rufus Owen. Ben also learned to turn in his father’s shop. In 1932, Ben became the sole potter at Jugtown. A willing and skilled young turner, Ben produced masterful pottery for over thirty-six years, experimenting with many extraordinary forms under the guidance of the Busbees. He traveled with the Busbees to museums and socials, researching different styles of pottery from around the world. Many sketches and photos were taken to use for further study. He would return to the pottery near Seagrove filled with new inspirations. The Asian and Middle-Eastern influences of pottery played a key role in the foundation of a Jugtown style. Works made from 1959-1972 were made at Old Plank Road Pottery, Ben Owen Pottery today, and stamped Ben Owen Master Potter. Ben retired shortly after 1972 due to health issues and advanced arthritis.