Jug with coat-of-arms of the Cleminius Family
ca. 1700
Medium
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
confirmed: 10 11/16 × 6 3/4 × 5 15/16 in. (27.2 × 17.1 × 15.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
German, Frankfurt with Nuremburg decoration
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Helga Kramarsky, 2020
Accession Number
2021.77.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant jug, crafted around 1700 in Frankfurt with intricate decoration from Nuremberg, exemplifies the height of German tin-glazed earthenware production during the late Baroque era. Attributed to Abraham Helmhack or an anonymous artisan, the piece measures about 10½ inches tall and features the heraldic coat-of-arms of the Cleminius Family, a mark of prestige for affluent burgher households. Tin-glazing—a technique where a lead-tin oxide layer is applied before firing—created a smooth, white surface ideal for vibrant painted motifs, mimicking costly Chinese porcelain while making luxury...