English Royal Worcester Cleft Top Jug Hand Painted Flowers c 1890

031113-4/RL-545

This is an English hard paste porcelain jug or pitcher, to be used either as a vase or as a holder for milk or another liquid at the table. The maker is Royal Worcester. The date is the 19th century, circa 1890.

The jug is 6 1/4" high and 5 3/4" wide at the belly.

The shape number is 1438 and Royal Worcester lists it as a "Jug Cleft Top."

The shape has a round body and a round foot. The neck is wide and divided into a cleft, with the one part forming the opening and the other part forming a wide spout. The flowers, leaves and stems are all hand painted and outlined in gold trim. One side of the pitcher has blue daisies and the other side has pink flowers, with some orange-red flowers under the spout and a nosegay of yellow daisies. The handle is covered in gleaming gold with streaks of red color; the foot is also covered in gold. The rim of the mouth has a line of gold trim.

The outside is the typical Royal Worcester ivory blush. The interior of the jug is glazed.

There is a small chip at the rim on one side of the spout, which I point to in red in two photos; there are no other chips, nicks, cracks or crazing. There is minimal wear to the gold trim. There are a few ink-like marks against the ground on the outside from the estate.

It is the standard printed Royal Worcester mark in purple with Royal Worcester England below. The Rd No is 144400. There is also some hand enameled lettering and numbers.