The marble-like beauty of Parian Ware captivated Victorians. It allowed the middle classes to possess articles of high art. And by the end of the 19th Century, every properly furnished Victorian parlor contained at least one piece of it. Victorians welcomed Parian’s inexpensive, small-scale copies of busts of literary and political figures, as well as its decorative vases, boxes and pitchers. It has been said that Parian had the same effect on statuary as the invention of the print to painting. Less expensive than bronze and more durable than plaster, Parian was a development of earlier biscuit porcelain. It is undecided who the inventor of Parian actually was, Copeland or Minton, in the early 1840's.

This gorgeous claret jug was made by the Copeland Company, circa 1850-1860, and is entitled 'The Vintage'. The jug is completely covered with grapevines hanging with clusters of ripened grapes and figures of bacchanalian merry making cherubs or putti. The twisted vine handle ties the tri-corner top to the body of the jug. The jug measures 10 1/2" in height and 6" across. The base is marked "Copeland" within a cartouche. There are no cracks, chips or repairs; near mint. Fantastic Parian-Ware claret jug.