A 17th-Century Westerwald, Germany Stoneware Jug Just Discovered in New England Compared to a German Artifact Just Recovered in the Netherlands

Thanks to Long Island researcher and collector Chris Pickerell for tagging me on a post on Facebook, where I just learned about the remains of this small cobalt decorated stoneware jug that was just recovered by Danny Ronda in a seventeenth century context in the Netherlands in Europe. The fragment was made in Westerwald, Germany and is decorated with applied molds of urns with flowers. 

Interestingly, this applied decoration is very similar to a small sized globular cobalt decorated stoneware jug with its original pewter lid made in Westerwald in the 1600s that I just discovered a few days ago in a vintage/thrift type store in Newburyport, Massachusetts. What are the chances of that!?

According to Historic Jamestowne in Virginia, "Manufacture of pottery for local distribution began as early as the 14th century east of the Rhine River in the south-west region of the Westerwald. Major expansion of the industry occurred when potting families from Raeren (in modern Belgium) and from Seigburg relocated chiefly to Höhr, Grenzau, and Grenhausen in the 1580s and 1590s. The move gave potters access to the abundant clay and wood resources in the area, and also helped them escape the political unrest and military conflict that had previously beleaguered them.

The Westerwald stoneware industry flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries.  A significant increase in the number of potters in the second quarter of the 17th century led to the production of new and different forms and types of decoration, making products from the area easily recognizable. In the late 17th century and throughout the 18th century, crowned initials of English monarchs were common on vessels made for British markets. Westerwald stoneware was traded up the Rhine River into the Low Countries, and distributed via Dutch merchants to the British Isles and beyond. The few Westerwald stoneware vessels recovered from James Fort were brought from England with their wealthy owners. Objects of a later date, however, may have been obtained directly from Dutch trading vessels."

Furthermore, here is a link to the story I posted yesterday about the discovery of this jug, where I compare it to an artifact recovered from a seventeenth century archaeological context in Manhattan, as well as an existing object owned by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/10/likely-good-example-of-seventeenth.html.

17th Century Remains of a Stoneware Jug Made in Westerwald Germany

Decorated with Applied Molds of Urns with Flowers

Recovered From a 17th Century Context in the Netherlands in Europe

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Danny Ronda

Likely a 17th Century Stoneware Jug Made in Westerwald, Germany

The Pewter Lid is Original

Decorated with Applied Molds of Urns with Flowers

The Applied Decoration is Very Similar to the Jug Recovered in the Netherlands

Found Two Days Ago in a Thrift/Vintage Type Store in New England

Likely Circa 1670-1680

Stands Just 5 1/2" Tall Not Including the Pewter Lid

See Article for More Information

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...