Bristol Glaze Antique Stoneware Jug

This antique one-gallon stoneware jug was given a coat of greyish-white Bristol glaze. Bristol glazes were developed in 1835 in England as an alternative to salt glazing and became popular with American potters in the 1870's. The shape of this jug is transitional, made between the time of the ovoid forms of the early 1800's and the high-shouldered "whiskey jug" shape of the 1900's. Those jugs most often had a dark brown (Albany slip) cone top, whereas this jug is all Bristol glazed on the outside and Albany slip glazed on the inside. This jug dates to the last twenty years of the 1800's. Given that the use of Bristol glaze began to be used in America in Ohio, and that the clay used for this jug is pale yellow, it's probable that the piece was made in Ohio or Western Pennsylvania.

The jug measures 9 3/4 inches tall, about 5 inches across the belly with a circumference of about 17 1/2 inches. It has a wide strap handle pulled from the neck; the upper portion curves down to a narrow, raised ridge (the precursor of the shoulder ridge on the later jugs. The sides are straight from that point on down to a base that measures 5 3/8 inches in diameter. It weighs 3 pounds and is in very good condition, with a small chip on the bottom edge and crazing of the high gloss glaze. It's a great display piece and a good contrast with brown and black jugs and crocks.

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