c1840 Octagonal English Porcelain Gray Beard Mask Jug or Pitcher

This pitcher has no impressed makers marks or factory names and so I do not know precisely who produced it. Bone China and Stoneware jugs and pitchers with ornate surface decoration were widely produced by many Staffordshire factories and other potteries in Great Britain between 1820 and 1860. The shape of this jug and its applied clay acanthus leaves and geometric border decoration fall toward the older end of this broader period (1830s). Face jugs and pitchers with masks were produced early by British porcelain factories with some of the best examples produced form the 1760s to 1790s at Worcester, Caughley and Liverpool (see Godden 1974: p 87, p 89, p 102, Fig 96; also see Savage and Newman 2000:pp188-189). Ralph Wood (both senior & his son) also produced jugs and pitchers with faces under the spout in creamware and pearlware with underglaze Pratt color decoration. The pitcher offered here is some 50 to 70 years later than the Worcester and Caughley examples and its plain white paneled body is set the stage for flood of plain white geometrically paneled Victorian ironstone and porcelain of the mid 1800s.

This is a wonderful example of English bone china (soft paste porcelain) from the second quarter of the 19th century. As such, it is guaranteed to be over 165 years old and in excellent condition (see Condition notes below). This pitcher probably holds between a quart and a quart and one-half (from two to three pints; not measured but simply estimated). If any viewer knows the name of the pottery that made this particular pitcher (such as if one has an example with a maker's mark), then please do kindly drop me a email - - thanks. And for those who collect versions of jasperware in porcelain, or enjoy displaying mask jugs or other unusual examples of antique bone china, then make sure you consider purchasing this face pitcher while it is still available. Of course, this pitcher also comes with my Docs Antiques 100% satisfaction guarantee or you may return it using my return policy for a refund (see full details below).

SIZE: This pitcher stands 7 inches tall at its spout and at the tip of its handle. It is about 4 3/4 inches wide along its bulbous belly and measures 6 3/8 inches from outermost handle edge across to outermost spout edge. The pitcher sits on an octagonal footring and has a base that measures about 3 3/8 inches across. The jug holds between 2 pints and three pints (estimated). It is a perfect size for displaying on a table, shelf or mantle or along a window ledge where light can make it sparkle and certainly capture attention.

CONDITION: This pitcher is in very good condition with no chips, no hairlines, no major stains, no repairs and no restorations. There are two very minor production imperfections typical of porcelain from over 165 years ago and many collectors would not notice either. The handle has a short fissure at the top where the clay did not bond together fully. The fissure is curved, about 1/2 inches long and has collected some minor grime over the centuries (fissure is pointed out in the last photo with a red pen). The other imperfection is also of no real consequence unless you intend to use the pitcher often. One of the lavender large leaves applied to the front of the pitcher and to the right of the mask was not pressed down fully when it was soft and now appears raised about 1/64 inches above the white body of the pitcher for a short 1 1/4 inch long segment. A black pen points to this raised segment where the acanthus leaf is not tightly bonded to the body (one can slide a piece of paper just under the edge of the acanthus leaf). And so when cleaning this pitcher, one must not press down hard right long the edge of this raised segment on the acanthus leaf or one risks breaking off the outer most edge of the leaf. So far, no one has done this in the last 165 years and I only mention it now so that its next owner will also not have the distinction of accidentally crushing this segment.

SHIPPING: All US mainland buyers pay $12.80 for well packed and insured USPS Priority Mail (this is an estimated savings of about $2 to $5 since insurance is also INCLUDED in the above quoted amount for all mainland US addresses). If you live in Texas or in an adjacent state, simply email me for a revised quote. A slower shipping option is also available, too (see shipping section below for Parcel Post option). No handling or packing fees are ever charged and fragile items will be double boxed for maximum protection. All international buyers will pay only the exact shipping costs for all verifiable locations outside the continental US mainland. Insurance against loss or damage is not available on International First Class Parcels (limited to 4 lbs maximum weight), International Economy shipping or International Priority Shipping. The buyer will be asked to acknowledge this fact or to upgrade to an International shipping option with insurance against loss or damage (email us for an insured shipping quote). We have shipped fragile items to 23 countries around the globe to date and have not had any items lost or broken, however this fact does not guarantee that no postal mishandling will ever occur in the future. Also, please note that International import duties, taxes and other charges are not included in the item price or shipping costs and these additional charges are the Buyer's responsibility. We do offer a petition for VAT relief on the behalf of the buyer which may help reduce certain import taxes should your country allow such petitions for items over 100 years old. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to purchasing this item -- thanks.

RETURN POLICY: Satisfaction and peace of mind are guaranteed for all Docs Antiques Ruby Lane listings -- please refer directly to our Service Pledge and our Return Policy for full details. And this means that if you are unhappy with your purchase, then you may return it by sending the item back undamaged and post marked within seven days of original receipt for a refund (certain shipping costs are non-refundable). Items damaged during shipping are covered by insurance and while this rarely happens because we double box, we will gladly help you file your insurance claim should it ever be necessary (to date, we have had only two claims for damage from shipping in over eight years). Of course, never send an item back that was damaged by shipping since that will void the original insurance. Instead, contact us for help and we will gladly assist.

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Item ID: RL498.a1302nye