On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Big White Jug

Jug
1987 (made)
Artist/Maker
Britton, Alison (maker)

Alison Britton's expressive surfaces relate to modern painting, but her work is also deeply informed by ceramic history. This jug is decorated in classical blue and white, and its twisted handle is inspired by traditional 'crabstock' handles. Jugs are normally functional objects, but here the unexpectedly inverted spout defies use, provoking us to question our assumptions about craft and function.

Object details

Category
Studio Ceramics
Object type
Jug
TitleBig White Jug (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, handbuilt
Earthenware
Brief description
Handbuilt earthenware jug with blue and white decoration, Alison Britton, 1987.
Physical description
Handbuilt jug with painted decoration in blue on a cream slip.
Dimensions
  • Maximum; with handle, measured from object width: 37.7cm
  • Measured from object height: 36.2cm
  • Maximum; measured from object depth: 28.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Alison Britton '87', incised
Object history
Acquisition details: CAA (solo exhibition, 1987)

RF number: 87/1746
Summary
Alison Britton's expressive surfaces relate to modern painting, but her work is also deeply informed by ceramic history. This jug is decorated in classical blue and white, and its twisted handle is inspired by traditional 'crabstock' handles. Jugs are normally functional objects, but here the unexpectedly inverted spout defies use, provoking us to question our assumptions about craft and function.
Bibliographic references
  • Watson, Oliver. British Studio Pottery : the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Oxford : Phaidon, Christie's, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990
  • Adamson, Glenn and Pavitt, Jane. Postmodernism: Style and Subversion, 1970- 1990 London: V&A publishing, 2011 pp, ill 85, 86, 87, 113,161,167 . ISBN 978 1 85177 6597
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.233-1987

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Record createdJanuary 14, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O19169/big-white-jug-jug-britton-alison/
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