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Staffordshire Blue & White Transferware Puzzle Jug [142402]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Staffordshire  Blue & White Transferware Puzzle Jug   [142402]
SOLD
700.00USDto D*********7+ buyer's premium (154.00)
This item SOLD at 2022 Feb 24 @ 14:10UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Staffordshire English "Delft" Blue and White Transferware Puzzle Jug 1817. Overglaze printing on porcelain with Sentinel mark printed on base, possibly referring to the pattern but we were unable to match the name or scene in any reference. Further research is recommended. This jug is personalized with a name and date painted in cursive on the side: "Jane Bigwood / Feby 24th, 1817". Measures approx. 7" tall; 4.25" diameter at base; 3.75" diameter at mouth; about 8.5" wide from tip of spout to handle.

The puzzle jug was first created by Delft Potters as a joke and amusing tavern game that challenged drinkers to consume the contents without spilling. Most have openwork on the neck of the jug with numerous holes which prevent any liquid in the body of the jut from being poured or consumed with employing a special technique. Additional holes are often cleverly concealed adding to the challenge. After an evening of consumption in the local tavern, puzzle jugs provided endless hours of entertainment as rookies attempted to solve the puzzle and left the table game drenched.

Due to the close proximity to Holland, English potters were making similar pieces by the late 1600s. By the mid 1700s nearly every major potter produced a blue and white "Delft" line making it difficult to attribute unmarked antique pieces to a specific potter or pottery. However, because puzzle jugs were difficult to produce, most were made on special order and therefore surviving examples are often dated and/or personalized, as this one is.

The artwork on this puzzle jug resembles the Italian scenes made famous by Spode, but we cannot place this exact pattern, although we found some pieces produced by Bramel Pottery in Yorkshire that resembled the artwork and pattern on this piece. It is worth noting that this puzzle jug has dragon head spouts, a feature adopted from Chinese porcelain, but the scene pictured in the blue and white transfer pattern is decidedly European.

This puzzle jug is personalized with the name and birthday of Jane Bigwood. Jane was born on the date on the jug, February 24th, 1817 in Potterne, Wiltshire, England to Joseph and Grace (Glass) Bigwood, who were married in 1816. Jane was the first born of three siblings. Joseph Bigwood was an Agricultural laborer, according to the records we located. Jane married George Campion and died in 1891 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. She had 2-3 children and her last known occupation was a Laundress. It is unusual to find a personalized piece of pottery of this quality commissioned by a blue-collar, working family, which may be the reason it was treasured and survived over 200 years. We highly recommend an expert appraisal of this incredible piece.

We will include instructions on how to solve the puzzle jug challenge when we ship the jug to the lucky winner.


Date: 1817
Country (if not USA): United Kingdom
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