Jug

Dateearly to mid 18th century

MediumWheel-thrown salt-glazed stoneware with cobalt blue decoration

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x diameter): 10 1/4 x 7 5/16in. (26 x 18.5cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineMuseum purchase

DescriptionRound, grey, stoneware jug with a salt glaze and cobalt blue decoration. The jug has a narrow, cylindrical neck that swells below the shoulder to form an ovoid body. The jug also has an applied, pulled strap handle connecting the neck with the shoulder. The neck and rim of the jug tilt to one side, away from the handle. The primary decoration on the jug, located opposite the handle, is sprigg-molded. It consists of a face, with a crown on its head and a long flowing beard below, possibly meant to represent a lion. The beard is surrounded by incised, zig-zag lines. There is cobalt blue in a line around the lines, on the beard, and on the crown. This primary decoration is flanked on either side by an abstract, symmetrical, organic shape, then with an additional sprigg-molded crowned head with long beard on either side of that. Above this is an incised line that circles the jug, a line of circular, stamped decorations, and a scalloped line in cobalt blue. There are two lines of cobalt blue applied to some raised bands of stoneware just below the rim. The surface of the stoneware is pitted and bumpy, and there are concentric, off-center ovals on the bottom of the jug. Additionally, there is an indentation of the stoneware below the handle and to the lower left of the primary decoration. This may have been intentional, but definitely occurred at the time of manufacture.

There are two chips in the rim, and two short cracks that circle the foot of the jug. Also, the sprigg-molded decoration to the right of the handle has broken off on the lower right of the face and beard.

Object number1987.160.2

MarkingsThere is one Garvan collection number on the bottom of the jug, "K.861 F.7", hand-painted in red paint. Additionally, there is one small, white, rectangular paper label with a red border. "473-N" is hand-written in black ink on the label.

Subject Terms

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