Cabbage-leaf jug thumbnail 1
Cabbage-leaf jug thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 139, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Cabbage-leaf jug

Jug
ca. 1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This jug was probably used for serving beer, cider or perry. It was made at Caughley in Shropshire, but it was decorated at Robert Chamberlain's enamelling workshop in Worcester. Chamberlain was originally a 'pot painting' apprentice at the Worcester porcelain factory. He left around 1786 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. He also bought Caughley wares and decorated them for re-sale on his own account.
Jugs with cabbage-leaf moulded patterns were very popular in Britain between the 1750s, when the design 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. A Worcester porcelain price list of about 1755-1756 describes them as 'Dutch Jugs'. They were then made at Lowestoft, Caughley and several of the Liverpool factories. The design was also copied in Chinese porcelain for export to Europe.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCabbage-leaf jug (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Soft-paste porcelain moulded in relief, painted with enamels and gilded
Brief description
Jug of soft-paste porcelain moulded in relief, painted with enamels and gilded, decorated by George Davis at Chamberlain's factory, Worcester, made at Caughley Porcelain Factory, Caughley, ca. 1790.
Physical description
Jug of soft-paste porcelain moulded in relief, painted with enamels and gilded. Egg-shaped body moulded with a cabbage-leaf pattern. Cylindrical neck, spout moulded with a bearded mask and scroll handle. In front is a landscape with a turkey and exotic birds. On either side is a group of fruit. Round the neck is a wreath of fruit and flowers intertwined with a purple ribbon, and below is a leaf border in gold.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21.6cm
  • Diameter: 14.6cm
Credit line
Given by Alfred Darby, Esq.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This jug was probably used for serving beer, cider or perry. It was made at Caughley in Shropshire, but it was decorated at Robert Chamberlain's enamelling workshop in Worcester. Chamberlain was originally a 'pot painting' apprentice at the Worcester porcelain factory. He left around 1786 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. He also bought Caughley wares and decorated them for re-sale on his own account.
Jugs with cabbage-leaf moulded patterns were very popular in Britain between the 1750s, when the design 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. A Worcester porcelain price list of about 1755-1756 describes them as 'Dutch Jugs'. They were then made at Lowestoft, Caughley and several of the Liverpool factories. The design was also copied in Chinese porcelain for export to Europe.
Bibliographic reference
Young, Hilary. English Porcelain, 1745-95. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1999. 229p., ill. ISBN 1851772820.
Collection
Accession number
C.50-1921

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Record createdDecember 2, 2002
Record URL
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