VESSEL

A sherd from a post-Medieval stoneware jug.

The piece represents part of the neck of a German Bellarmine, or Bartmann, jug and retains much of the characteristic male mask. The details of this face have been applied as slip and are crudely executed in places. The eyes are elliptical, with raised pupils and sclerae. An elongated, subrectangular nose extends downwards from between the eyes, its base located a short distance above the remains of a horizontal moustache. Two curves of hair border the face, and a segmented band extends horizontally across the top. The diameter of the neck declines towards the broken top. The fabric is mid grey and has small dark inclusions. Speckled brown and white glaze covers the outer surface, with a plain glaze on the inner surface, which also displays rilling from the wheel throwing process.

Height: 42.7mm; width: 48.3mm. Weight: 53.7g.

According to the Museum of London website, 'These jugs are stamped with the face of a bearded man, thought to represent a 'Wild man' found in popular European myths of the period. The name 'Bellarmine' is commonly thought to be associated with Cardinal Roberto Bellarmino (1542-1621), an opponent of Protestantism. Initially these facemasks were very well executed (A734), but they became cruder during the 17th century'. (source: http://archive.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/subsubcategory.asp?subsubcat_id=837&subsubcat_name=Frechen&cat_id=714; accessed 24.10.14). Chris Green (pers. comm.) dates this particular example to the 17th century, identifying it as a typical product of Frechen (Cologne).