Cream or milk jug (Cream or milk pot)

Description

Sometimes called lead-glazed blackware, most ceramics of this general type were made in Staffordshire, England, during the mid 1700s. (Jackfield, in Shropshire, England, was another producer but made much lower quantities than did Staffordshire.) The glossy dark appearance of blackware was achieved in either of two ways: a nearly-black earthenware body was covered in a clear, yellowish lead glaze; or, a dark red earthenware body was coated in lead glaze that was tinted dark brown. Although such wares now typically display an overall shiny appearance, many originally bore “cold painted” (unfired or low-temperature-fired) ornament inspired by the appearance of popular Chinese or Japanese lacquerwork. Such designs typically were applied in gilding or in multi-colored paint-like materials. However, cold-applied designs did not adhere well to the glaze surface, and over time many wore away, leaving an uneven appearance. During the 1900s, some collectors chose to rub away the remaining, deteriorated color or gilt decoration, in favor of an overall more mirror-like, reflective appearance. The inspiration for the relief decoration on the body of this small cream or milk jug likely was imported Chinese unglazed Yixing stoneware.