cream jug

Summary

Public: Pear-shaped lidded cream jug made of white salt-glazed stoneware, with relief decoration of figures, animals and plants, and silver mounts. Private: Pear-shaped cream jug on circular spreading foot, tapering to cylindrical neck with sparrow beak lip. Plain loop handle with two broad notches in thumb rest and six small nicks in rat's tail lower terminal. Fine slip-cast body with sharp relief decoration comprising two rows of eight vertical panels. Top row from right of handle; bird amongst flowering branches; scrolling flowering stem; dragon beneath fruiting tree; figure carrying tall flowering stem; dragon head emerging from scrolling plant; flowering plant; dragon head with fan tail beneath flower; scrolling plant growing out of dragon's tail. Bottom row from right of handle; two figures on hillside, one with loaded basket on his back, the other with a sickle; woman arranging flowers above fruiting vine; Silenus on an ass with three figures, above row of three mythical animals carrying torches; three panels depicting huntsmen and hounds chasing a stag; woman riding a camel; the Pelican in her Piety beneath flowering plant. Domed cover with flattened rim and discoloured button finial, with eight radiating relief panels of different flowering plants. Silver mounts to foot, neck rim and cover, with serrated edges, tall shaped thumb rest and tapering ribbed spur resting against handle.