This jug bears a distinctive lustred decoration. Lustres are microscopically thin metallic layers fired onto the surface of glazed ceramics and have been employed across the world for many centuries.

Historically there are different means of achieving a lustre finish but in 1805, Staffordshire potters developed a new and relatively cheap technique of adding a metallic layer to ceramics. They applied a resin-based liquid containing a suspension of gold or platinum dissolved in aqua regia (a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids). During firing, the resin burnt away, causing a localised reduction and leaving a brilliant film of pure metal.

Resist patterns of the type used on this jug were aqueous solutions of gum or honey. They were painted onto plain white-glazed earthenwares or over enamelled decoration. The resist was washed away after the application of the lustre, but before the pot was fired, revealing the plain or painted earthenware below.