milk jug

Melbourne Pottery

Summary

Pear-shaped milk jug on turned spreading foot, with sparrow beak lip and reeded double intertwined handle with flower and leaf terminals. Transfer-printed in overglaze black on side to left of handle, with medallion containing figure of Minerva with three children, lyre and caduceus at her feet, drapery in the background revealing gazebo, and scroll below inscribed 'LET WISDOM UNITE US.'. Medallion encircled with husk chain suspended from ribbon bow, and flanked by Rococo scrollwork from which hangs dead game, a deer and bird on either side. Side to right of handle printed with two birds perched on broken bar of a fence, third bird in tree to right. Painted black enamel feathery border to rim of graduated vertical strokes. Pale cream coloured earthenware body, with fine pale yellowish glaze.