Victorian Jugs

Jugs held various liquids for centures with their swelling belly, relatively short neck and trusty handle on the side. They were particularly splendid in the Victorian era when they ranged from earthenware to elegant silver. They reached their zenith at a time when they held everything from warm milk to wine.

The jug was in use centuries before they achieved their noble status of the Victorian years. As early as the 16th century, jugs were put into service for serving most any liquid. By the 1660s, large jugs designed to hold large amounts of beer or wine appeared on the finest European tables.

Up until the 18th century, design and shape might have varied considerably. However, by the 1700s, the baluster shape, stressing a long neck and swelling body, was generally favored.

A good many of such 18th century jugs were weighty and simple with the single purpose of serving beer. Often such jugs were marked with ornamental decorations in the image of barley or hops.

Still others were marked with single letters, such as an A for ale, to clearly indicate their purpose. However, the silver claret jug could be just as delicate as the delicate wine it served in the early 1700s. ONe was described as having the above mentioned baluster form with gemstones and a scroll lid finial.

Victorian Walker And Hall Silver Plated Gravy Boat Sauce Jug 1891 1909    US $25.30

LARGE VICTORIAN SILVER PLATED JUG 17th Century Style    US $142.38

SUPER VICTORIAN 1897 SILVER CREAM JUG GEORGIAN STYLE DOOMED FOOT HALLMARKED    US $49.04

Victorian Silver Wine Jug Decanter R Harper London 1869    US $2,950.00

It also featured a reeded rim, and reeded banding up to the neck of the jug. It stood 10 inches tall and would be valued at several thousand dollars today.

By the 1720s, the simple jug had yet another domestic use. Although tea was already popular in Great Britain and other countries, it became fashionable to add things to the tea like sugar and cream or warmed milk.

A small covered jug was the perfect thing for not only serving the milk, but maintaining the temperature. Many of these jugs bore both hinged lids and wooden handle to allow for serving while very warm. Some such milk jugs had raised feet to protect the tabletop from the heat of its contents.

"From the 1790s, most cream jugs were made as parts of matching tea services," notes Jill Brace author of Collecting Silver. "Made of thin-gauge silver and subjected to heavy use, many jugs and creamers have been damaged, despite beaded or reeded wires applied to strengthen the tims."

Brace describes one particular early 1800s milk jug design as complete with angular handle, reeded rim and fluting on the lower body. Add the author, "the practical nature of the design is underscored by the sturdy flat base, which would easily sit on a tray without tipping over and spilling the milk."

GOOD VICTORIAN SILVER PLATE TEA POT RIBBED 1880s    US $35.60

Victorian 1866 Solid Silver Teapot Georgian Style by Hawkhurst and Eyre London    US $1,265.60

VICTORIAN SCOTTISH SILVER BULLET SHAPED TEAPOTEDINBURGH 1875    US $2,293.90

Victorian 1876 Solid Silver Teapot London 289 Troy Oz Richard Martin and E Hall    US $1,977.50

By the 1830s, the well to do were serving their finest wines in silver jugs which often featured vine motifs. Some of these claret jugs were simply glass with silver attachments, while others were made entirely of silver.

Rawlins and Sumner of London purchased some dazzling glass claret jugs in the early 1840s. The makers used a colorless glass body and added flap-like lappets with surface frosting.

This observation was made in the highly comprehensive Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia edited by Judith Miller: "In the 1860s and 1870s the well-known Victorian architect and designer William Burges created claret-jugs with color glass bodies and elaborate mounts inspired by medieval decorative arts. These were set with semi-precious stones, medalions and enamels, with the silver of silver-gilt handles and spouts in the form of fantastical animals and birds and the mounts ornamented with stylized flowers and leaves.

"In contrast, during the same period the English manufacturers Elkington and Co., Hukin and Heath, and James Dixon and Sons manufactured jugs in pure geometric forms with minimalist, plain silver or electroplate mounts."

VICTORIAN SILVER GLASS CLARET JUG LONDON 1894    US $1,740.20

Stunning Victorian silver plated claret jug baluster form Elkington 1898    US $134.47

VICTORIAN SILVER PLATED CLARET JUG c1880 NO RESERVE 3197]    US $12.64

AMAZINGc1880 VICTORIAN SILVER PLATE FIGURAL ETCHED GLASS CLARET WINE JUG PITCHER    US $102.50

Centering in similarly the author of the book Collecting Antique Silver Judith Banister adds: "Efforts to improve (silver jug) designs were legion during the Victorian period, and while few silversmiths could resist the lure of adding decoration, some silver jugs were relatively simple. Even the Gothic revival of the middle part of the 19th century did not entirely overwhelm domestic silver, though ceremonial silver was certainly much more elaborate."

One example was a clear glass claret jug designed by Robert Harper of London during the same era. It was silver mounted with a star-cut base and a cylindrical body. The silver mount was decorated with masks, fruiting vines and even a lion.

Ironically, while the finer jug was less expensive than the accompanying glass or silver pot, it was considerably more functional. The proper jug could be used with the usual variety of liquids that have been mentioned before from beer to milk to wine. The pot was meanwhile pretty limited to coffee or chocolate.

A few quality jugs were crafted shortly after the zenith of the Victorian era. As late as 1905, the Wurttemberg Metalwork Factory in Germany was proudly producing silver and pewter claret jugs for fine dining. Some were up to 17 inches tall.

Source: Robert Reed, Farm and Dairy - August 13, 2009