Jug thumbnail 1
Jug thumbnail 2

Jug

1674 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
One of the constant needs of a rural community was for massive beer or cider jugs. While the larger sizes of imported German stoneware bottle would have satisfied most needs, native potters made many plain lead-glazed earthenware jugs for carrying water from the well or carrying liquor to the harvesters in the field. It is mainly the inscribed presents such as this piece that have survived.

Materials & Making
This is a country potter's response to imported German stoneware. Since the basic clay is dark red, the desired treacle-brown colour is produced by adding iron and manganese to the lead glaze, while the decoration is confined to the application of small moulded 'prunts' (protrusions) and some hand-modelling. The precious white pipe-clay has been used sparingly.

Design & Designing
The jug itself is entirely functional and practical. However, the decoration contains elements borrowed from a variety of sources. The mask on the front was clearly inspired by stoneware bottles imported from Frechen (in Germany), and the applied medallions can also be traced to this source. The overall covering with prunts is reminiscent of contemporary imported blue and grey stonewares from the Westerwald in Germany. It is unlikely that the Wrotham potters would have been familiar with similar prunts on German glass.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Lead-glazed earthenware, with impressed and applied relief decoration, and additional decoration in white slip
Brief description
English jug
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.2cm
  • Width: 25cm
  • Depth: 26cm
Dimensions checked: measured; 15/07/1999 by DW
Marks and inscriptions
Applied and impressed with the initials 'IL', 'IE', and 'II' and the date 1674
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
EARLY SLIPWARE

The use of slip (liquid clay) to pipe simple designs onto clay vessels was familiar to Roman potters and became popular in The Netherlands after 1600. The farmer-potters of Wrotham, Kent were influenced by slipware bowls from The Netherlands and also by stoneware bottles from Germany, with applied moulded decoration. They supplied a purely local market and had no influence on mainstream developments in Staffordshire.
(23/05/2008)
Jug
Made in Kent, Wrotham, 1674
Initials in relief "IL" and "II" (perhaps for the potter John Ifield) and "IE"
Red earthenware, lead glazed with details of decoration in applied white clay

C.88-1930
Object history
Probably made by John Ifield of Wrotham, Kent
Production
Dated 1674
Summary
Object Type
One of the constant needs of a rural community was for massive beer or cider jugs. While the larger sizes of imported German stoneware bottle would have satisfied most needs, native potters made many plain lead-glazed earthenware jugs for carrying water from the well or carrying liquor to the harvesters in the field. It is mainly the inscribed presents such as this piece that have survived.

Materials & Making
This is a country potter's response to imported German stoneware. Since the basic clay is dark red, the desired treacle-brown colour is produced by adding iron and manganese to the lead glaze, while the decoration is confined to the application of small moulded 'prunts' (protrusions) and some hand-modelling. The precious white pipe-clay has been used sparingly.

Design & Designing
The jug itself is entirely functional and practical. However, the decoration contains elements borrowed from a variety of sources. The mask on the front was clearly inspired by stoneware bottles imported from Frechen (in Germany), and the applied medallions can also be traced to this source. The overall covering with prunts is reminiscent of contemporary imported blue and grey stonewares from the Westerwald in Germany. It is unlikely that the Wrotham potters would have been familiar with similar prunts on German glass.
Collection
Accession number
C.88-1930

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Record createdJuly 14, 1999
Record URL
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