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Jug
Chamberlain, Robert - Enlarge image
Jug
- Place of origin:
Caughley, England (made)
Worcester, England (possibly, decorated) - Date:
ca. 1785-1790 (decorated)
ca. 1775-1799 (made) - Artist/Maker:
Chamberlain, Robert (possibly, decorator)
Caughley Porcelain Factory (manufacturer) - Materials and Techniques:
Soft-paste porcelain moulded in relief and painted with enamels and gilded
- Credit Line:
Given by Alfred Darby, Esq.
- Museum number:
C.48-1921
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 53a, case 1
Object Type
These jugs with cabbage leaf moulded patterns were probably used for serving beer, cider or perry. The design was a very popular one in Britain between the 1750s, when it was introduced, and about 1800. Cabbage-leaf jugs could have a pouring lip formed as a mask or a plain cylindrical neck. They were first made at the Worcester porcelain factory, and then at Lowestoft, Caughley and several of the Liverpool factories. The design was also copied in Chinese porcelain for export to Europe. They are described as 'Dutch Jugs' on a Worcester porcelain price list of about 1755-1756.
People
This jug was made at Caughley in Shropshire, but decorated at Robert Chamberlain's enamelling workshop in Worcester. Chamberlain (1736-1798) had been apprenticed to learn 'pot painting' at the Worcester porcelain factory, where he was in due course put in charge of the 'ornamental part of the production.' Around 1786 he left the factory and started his own business in the same city. At first he ran this as a decorating studio, working as a sub-contractor for Caughley, but he also bought Caughley wares and decorated them for re-sale on his own account.
