Jug

Unknown Artist

ca. 1835

Jug by Unknown Artist

Medium

Earthenware, lusterware

Dimensions

5 1/16 x 7 1/8 in. (12.9 x 18.1 cm)

Classification

Jug

Culture

British

Department

The American Wing

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Bequest of Flora E. Whiting, 1971

Accession Number

1971.180.87

Tags

Birds

Art Historical Context

This charming earthenware jug, crafted around 1835 by an unknown British artist, exemplifies the vibrant lusterware tradition popular in 19th-century England. Standing just over 5 inches tall and 7 inches wide, modest scale suggests it was designed for everyday use—perhaps serving ale, water, or spirits in a humble household. The hallmark of lusterware lies in its iridescent glaze, achieved through a complex firing process that applies metallic oxides like platinum or gold, creating a shimmering, rainbow-like sheen reminiscent of ancient Middle Eastern ceramics but revived in Staffordshire pot...

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