Jug

Gallery 258, European Art 1850-1900, second floor

Main Building

Jug

Designed 1902

Designed by Richard Riemerschmid (German, 1868–1957) Made by Reinhold Merkelbach, Grenzhausen, Germany (1845–present)

Following the unfavorable reception of historicist German stonewares at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, manufacturers were encouraged by the Prussian government to collaborate with progressive artists and designers with the aim of reviving and modernizing the national ceramics industry. This jug was designed as part of such a partnership, between Munich architect-designer Richard Riemerschmid, a leading practitioner of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau style), and manufacturer Reinhold Merkelbach. Riemerschmid’s thoughtful, original approach to the medium is expressed in the modern sensibility of the jug, particularly present in its clean lines and the spiral that powerfully curves into the handle. While the effect was achieved through modern mold-forming techniques, the detail evokes the hand-crafted feel of earlier wares. Likewise, the variegated brown finish of the jug resulted from deliberate attempts to replicate the look of Cologne stonewares of the sixteenth century.

Gallery 258, European Art 1850-1900, second floor

Object Details

Titles:

Jug

Date:

Designed 1902

Artists:

Designed by Richard Riemerschmid (German, 1868–1957) Made by Reinhold Merkelbach, Grenzhausen, Germany (1845–present)

Medium:

Slip-coated and salt-glazed stoneware; pewter mounts

Dimensions:

Including Handle: 9 1/2 × 10 3/8 inches (24.1 × 26.4 cm) Diameter: 8 5/8 inches (21.9 cm)

Classification:

Containers

Credit Line:

Purchased with the Haney Foundation Fund, the Bloomfield Moore Fund, and the Edgar Viguers Seeler Fund, 1987

Accession Number:

1987-10-1

Geography:

Made in Grenzhausen, Germany, Europe

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Gallery 258, European Art 1850-1900, second floor

Main Building

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