Jug

Physical description

Mainly unglazed stoneware drinking-jug with funnel-neck flaring out to a wider mouth, small ring handle and frilled slightly raised foot. The stoneware is a pale grey and horizontal banding is visible showing clearly that the jug was wheel-thrown. Parts of the jug are coated with a light, patchy naturally orange coloured ash glaze formed from the potash from the kiln fuel.

Place of Origin

Siegburg

Date

ca. 1500 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Unglazed stoneware

Dimensions

Height: 15.4 cm
Width: 10.1 cm (including handle)
Diameter: 8.1 cm
Weight: 0.34 kg

Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries

Object history note

This jug was made in Siegburg, an abbey town on the River Sieg about 12km. east of Bonn where the river joins the Rhine. It was one of many objects transferred to the South Kensington Museum on the closure of the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street, but its earlier history is not recorded.

Historical context note

Stoneware was ideal for drinking vessels as it is non-porous even when left unglazed and a stronger material than earthenware or glass. This funnel-necked drinking jug (or Trichterhalskrug" in German) would have been used for wine or small quantities of strong beer. This plain type were quick to pot so were made in quantities, both for local sale and for export. It is not easy to date this jug precisely as the style varied little between the late fifteenth century and early sixteenth century.

Descriptive line

Mainly unglazed stoneware funnel-necked drinking-jug, with small ring handle and frilled slightly raised foot. The pale grey stoneware is partly-coated with a light, patchy naturally orange coloured ash glaze. Germany: Siegburg, about 1500.

Materials

Stoneware

Categories

Ceramics; Stoneware; Drinking

Collection code

CER