Jug

Art Historical Context

This unassuming jug, crafted by an unknown British artisan in the late 13th or early 14th century offers a glimpse into medieval daily life. Standing just 6 3/4 inches tall, its compact form—earthenware with a glossy glaze—suggests it was designed for practical use, perhaps pouring ale, water, or milk in a household setting. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art Department (acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1952), it exemplifies the humble ceramics that sustained ordinary folk during England's feudal era, a time of bustling markets, Gothic cathedrals, and evolving trade. The j...