Jug
1689-1702 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Though a typical example of the standard 17th-century globular pottery ale-mug shape, these stoneware versions made in the Westerwald area of Germany were equipped with heavily flanged rims to accept hinged pewter lids. In practice, no mugs destined for England seem to have been mounted in metal.
Design & Designing
Scope for decoration on grey Westerwald stoneware was strictly limited. The earliest technique - taken from Raeren (now Belgium) by potters migrating to the Westerwald at the end of the 16th century - consisted of applied moulded decoration. By the end of the 17th century, the quality of clay and moulded ornament had improved to the point where pots might be left in their natural drab colour, without the addition of purple or blue. The thin salt-glaze did nothing to obscure the fine detail of medallions such as this example, which was probably closely copied from a coin or medal.
People
After the sudden departure of the Catholic James II in the palace coup of 1688, William, Prince of Orange, was invited by Parliament to become King along with his Stuart wife Mary. The recent Dutch Wars were soon forgotten, and as a renowned military leader and champion of the Protestant cause, William was a popular figure in Northern Europe. Thus there was a ready market for ale mugs with his portrait. Though the inscription still hopefully repeats the claim to the kingdom of France, his victories over the French took place in Ireland, not in France.
Though a typical example of the standard 17th-century globular pottery ale-mug shape, these stoneware versions made in the Westerwald area of Germany were equipped with heavily flanged rims to accept hinged pewter lids. In practice, no mugs destined for England seem to have been mounted in metal.
Design & Designing
Scope for decoration on grey Westerwald stoneware was strictly limited. The earliest technique - taken from Raeren (now Belgium) by potters migrating to the Westerwald at the end of the 16th century - consisted of applied moulded decoration. By the end of the 17th century, the quality of clay and moulded ornament had improved to the point where pots might be left in their natural drab colour, without the addition of purple or blue. The thin salt-glaze did nothing to obscure the fine detail of medallions such as this example, which was probably closely copied from a coin or medal.
People
After the sudden departure of the Catholic James II in the palace coup of 1688, William, Prince of Orange, was invited by Parliament to become King along with his Stuart wife Mary. The recent Dutch Wars were soon forgotten, and as a renowned military leader and champion of the Protestant cause, William was a popular figure in Northern Europe. Thus there was a ready market for ale mugs with his portrait. Though the inscription still hopefully repeats the claim to the kingdom of France, his victories over the French took place in Ireland, not in France.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Salt-glazed stoneware with moulded and applied decoration |
| Brief description | Jug of salt-glazed stoneware with applied and incised decoration, Westerwald, 1689-1702. |
| Physical description | Jug of salt-glazed stoneware with applied and incised decoration. On the front is a medallion with the bust portrait of King William III inscribed 'G R' and 'WILHELMVS : DG. MA. BRIT. FRANC. ET. HIB. REX. &'. Globular body with a horizontally reeded cylindrical neck and loop handle. On either side of the medallion are incised stems terminating in applied foliated devices, symmetrically arranged. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'G R' and 'WILHELMVS : DG. MA. BRIT. FRANC. ET. HIB. REX. &' Note Inscribed |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type Though a typical example of the standard 17th-century globular pottery ale-mug shape, these stoneware versions made in the Westerwald area of Germany were equipped with heavily flanged rims to accept hinged pewter lids. In practice, no mugs destined for England seem to have been mounted in metal. Design & Designing Scope for decoration on grey Westerwald stoneware was strictly limited. The earliest technique - taken from Raeren (now Belgium) by potters migrating to the Westerwald at the end of the 16th century - consisted of applied moulded decoration. By the end of the 17th century, the quality of clay and moulded ornament had improved to the point where pots might be left in their natural drab colour, without the addition of purple or blue. The thin salt-glaze did nothing to obscure the fine detail of medallions such as this example, which was probably closely copied from a coin or medal. People After the sudden departure of the Catholic James II in the palace coup of 1688, William, Prince of Orange, was invited by Parliament to become King along with his Stuart wife Mary. The recent Dutch Wars were soon forgotten, and as a renowned military leader and champion of the Protestant cause, William was a popular figure in Northern Europe. Thus there was a ready market for ale mugs with his portrait. Though the inscription still hopefully repeats the claim to the kingdom of France, his victories over the French took place in Ireland, not in France. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3752-1901 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 14, 1999 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
