Ooops: another obsession
A weekend of rummaging in junk shops might have brought on a new thing to obsess over and start collecting. Oh dear.
This hideous beauty is a Dartmouth Pottery jug, variously known as a Gurgle, Gluggle or Glug jug. I’ve noticed in a distracted sort of way a mini trend for dark green vintage crockery, and this piece is just perfect. It is also – in the nicest possible way – grotesque. Perfect for adding a bit of drama and humour to a bunch of spring daffodils or similar.
While trying to find out more about it I inadvertently started a Pinterest board all about jugs. I would say that I could easily collect jugs until I had no room left in the house. Perhaps it is because they have a slight sheen of respectability because they are useful rather than mere ornaments. And perhaps because the simple elements of the body, handle and spout can be combined in an infinite number of pleasing variations.
This beautiful specimen above is also called a Glug Jug. Produced by Brooklyn-based potter Signe Yberg, it is designed to hold exactly one bottle of wine. The colour and shape couldn’t be more perfect. And while I was pinning, I couldn’t resist this curiosity:
Made by Anna Pottery in the late 1800s, it looked to me like a Grayson Perry. A read online about the pottery revealed that it has intellectual as well as visual connections to Perry’s pieces of ceramic social commentary. “Anna Pottery boasted the finest examples of 19th century folk art, creations of the brothers Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick. These unique pieces of pottery were the ‘messengers’ of their opinions on politics, corrupt tax revenuers, the Temperance movement and many other socially engaging topics.”
Glug.
Brilliant piece. I love jugs and also could very easily fill the house with a collection of them. I particularly like the social/political comment jug. I shall be looking out for one of those.
Gurgle jugs are a family favourite, after granny always served water from one. We have one now and never stop enjoying the noise it makes delivering water. When your daffy are finished try it on the dinner table, it’s gurgles are deeply satisfying.
My parents have been collecting glug jugs since I was little – they must have at least 10! They’re a perfect piece of kitsch. Sad I don’t have any (they clearly need to pass some over to me).
I really like this piece!