Bottle
ca. 1660-1665 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
The form of the so-called 'Bartmann' ('bearded man'; also known in England as a 'bellarmine') stoneware bottle, made at Frechen in the Rhineland, was standardised by about 1600. It continued with only minor changes to the body profile and a gradual deterioration in quality until the end of the 17th century. This piece, closely datable to 1660-65, is a good example of its type.
Trading
Until John Dwight, founder of the Fulham Pottery, patented his stoneware in 1672, Britain was entirely dependent on Germany for its stoneware bottles and beer mugs. These were shipped along the Rhine by Dutch merchants to convenient ports such as Rotterdam and Nijmegen. After reaching London, they were distributed to the rest of the country. So complete was the Dutch control over the stoneware bottle trade that from about 1600 some of the leading merchants commissioned bottles with their name, arms or merchant's mark from Frechen potteries, no doubt to serve as an advertisement. Jan op de Kamp was an associate of Pieter van den Ancker, many of whose bottles have survived. Both were closely involved in the Frechen-London bottle trade.
Time
The last mass importation of German stoneware bottles took place in the 1660s for three reasons. The popularity of the new English black glass bottle was increasing rapidly, the stoneware bottle trade ceased during the three Dutch Wars of the late 17th century, and by 1675 Dwight's Fulham Pottery was in full production.
The form of the so-called 'Bartmann' ('bearded man'; also known in England as a 'bellarmine') stoneware bottle, made at Frechen in the Rhineland, was standardised by about 1600. It continued with only minor changes to the body profile and a gradual deterioration in quality until the end of the 17th century. This piece, closely datable to 1660-65, is a good example of its type.
Trading
Until John Dwight, founder of the Fulham Pottery, patented his stoneware in 1672, Britain was entirely dependent on Germany for its stoneware bottles and beer mugs. These were shipped along the Rhine by Dutch merchants to convenient ports such as Rotterdam and Nijmegen. After reaching London, they were distributed to the rest of the country. So complete was the Dutch control over the stoneware bottle trade that from about 1600 some of the leading merchants commissioned bottles with their name, arms or merchant's mark from Frechen potteries, no doubt to serve as an advertisement. Jan op de Kamp was an associate of Pieter van den Ancker, many of whose bottles have survived. Both were closely involved in the Frechen-London bottle trade.
Time
The last mass importation of German stoneware bottles took place in the 1660s for three reasons. The popularity of the new English black glass bottle was increasing rapidly, the stoneware bottle trade ceased during the three Dutch Wars of the late 17th century, and by 1675 Dwight's Fulham Pottery was in full production.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Salt-glazed stoneware, dipped in an iron-rich slip |
| Brief description | Frechen salt gazed stoneware with Bartmann mask and medallion of 'IODK' for Jan op de Kamp. German ca. 1660-1665 |
| Physical description | German bartmann jug |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
STONEWARE BOTTLES Vast numbers of salt-glazed stoneware bottles and beer mugs were shipped by Dutch merchants from the mouth of the Rhine to London. Potters in England attempted to make stoneware using German expertise, but at first they were unsuccessful, both technically and commercially. Apart from his independent discovery of the salt-glaze technique, John Dwight's success lay in identifying suitable clays and developing reliable high-temperature kilns for the new stoneware.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Jan van Loo |
| Object history | Marked 'IODK' for Jan op de Kamp (active about 1660-1670), a Dutch bottle dealer who is known to have shipped Frechen stonewares along the Rhine to Rotterdam and thence to London The bottle is a waster (imperfect, rejected product), excavated at Frechen Made at Frechen, near Cologne, Germany |
| Summary | Object Type The form of the so-called 'Bartmann' ('bearded man'; also known in England as a 'bellarmine') stoneware bottle, made at Frechen in the Rhineland, was standardised by about 1600. It continued with only minor changes to the body profile and a gradual deterioration in quality until the end of the 17th century. This piece, closely datable to 1660-65, is a good example of its type. Trading Until John Dwight, founder of the Fulham Pottery, patented his stoneware in 1672, Britain was entirely dependent on Germany for its stoneware bottles and beer mugs. These were shipped along the Rhine by Dutch merchants to convenient ports such as Rotterdam and Nijmegen. After reaching London, they were distributed to the rest of the country. So complete was the Dutch control over the stoneware bottle trade that from about 1600 some of the leading merchants commissioned bottles with their name, arms or merchant's mark from Frechen potteries, no doubt to serve as an advertisement. Jan op de Kamp was an associate of Pieter van den Ancker, many of whose bottles have survived. Both were closely involved in the Frechen-London bottle trade. Time The last mass importation of German stoneware bottles took place in the 1660s for three reasons. The popularity of the new English black glass bottle was increasing rapidly, the stoneware bottle trade ceased during the three Dutch Wars of the late 17th century, and by 1675 Dwight's Fulham Pottery was in full production. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.31-2000 |
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 | October 13, 2000 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
