Rare superbly decorated mid 1700s Westerwald Georgian GR sprigged stoneware mug
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Rare superbly decorated mid 1700s Westerwald Georgian GR sprigged stoneware mug:
$479.99
We are listing this very rarely seen mid 1700s Westerwald Georgian decorated stoneware mug which has a wonderfully elaborate sprigged GR plaque on the front of it, and very striking incised and blue glazed designs on its sides. GR (George Rex, or George the King) jugs (and much less commonly mugs) were quite popular from 1714 through 1820 during the reigns of England\'s Kings George I through George III. The pieces were made in blue and gray salt glazed stoneware in the Westerwald area in Germany primarily for export to England (George I-III were also Dukes and Prince-Electors of the Hanover Duchy in what is now Germany). Although it is usually impossible to definitively date GR pieces, this mug probably dates to the mid 1700s when George II\'s reign was ending and George III\'s was beginning, since the tail below the bottom of its handle was used between the earlier rolled (curled) terminals and the later flattened handle terminals (see page 27 of THE BEER STEIN BOOK A 400 Year History). Like many GR jugs and mugs, this one features a hole in the top of its handle to anchor a metal lid if one were to be added (it appears one never was used on this piece). The second chapter of SALT GLAZED STONEWARE IN EARLY AMERICA is devoted to Westerwald stoneware found in America, and on page 47 there is a picture which includes two GR mugs similar to the listed one (although perhaps not as well decorated and certainly not as well sprigged). Not all GR pieces ended up in England or its colonies, and you can see other examples of similar rare GR mugs which reside in the internationally acclaimed Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin) on pages 361-362 of the German book STEINZEUG (Stoneware). During the late 1700s England began producing its own blue and gray GR jugs emulating Westerwald\'s (I have never heard of an English GR mug), but it is easy to distinguish the English versions from the earlier German pieces. The listed mug has an elaborate superbly sprigged GR plaque on its front, a simple looped handle and wirecut base, and beautiful blue coloring in the GR and incised designs on its sides. It is over 3.5 inches tall, over 4.25 inches at its widest point, it displays very well, and it is in very good overall condition. There is a very thin hairline across its base which does go through to the inside, and a separation line on one side of the bottom handle join (I cannot positively rule out the possibility of a very professional restoration on the handle). Please view the closeup pictures and judge for yourself. This is a very rarely seen piece of 1700s Westerwald Georgian stoneware, and a wonderfully decorative item as well.
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Rare superbly decorated mid 1700s Westerwald Georgian GR sprigged stoneware mug:
$479.99