Jug with twisted handle
Unknown Artist
late 13th century
Medium
Lead glazed earthenware
Dimensions
10 11/16 × 8 1/8 × 7 3/8 in. (27.2 × 20.6 × 18.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
British
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 2014
Accession Number
2014.582
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant "Jug with Twisted Handle," crafted in late 13th-century Britain, exemplifies everyday medieval pottery elevated to art through skilled craftsmanship. Made of lead-glazed earthenware—a practical medium that provided a glossy, waterproof finish for household use—the jug stands about 10½ inches tall, with a twisted handle that adds both ergonomic appeal and visual flair. Produced during a time when ceramic production was flourishing in England, such vessels were essential for serving ale, wine, or water in homes and taverns. The twisted handle technique highlights the potter's exper...