Phoenix Handled Copper Lustre Jug Enamelled Sprigged Exotic Bird flowers c 1835

An unusual interesting and collectable low relief moulded copper lustre jug with a Phoenix head handle, it's crested head being the thumb rest. This is a great item for any collector of lustreware or unusually shaped jugs dating from around 1835, during the reign of William IV or perhaps Queen Victoria in the second quarter of the 19th century. 

This copper lustre jug, which stands on a round pedestal foot, is made of earthenware and is round bodied and has a partially lustre glazed interior which extends in as far as the long concave shaped and banded neck. The jug has a distinctive high prow shaped spout reminiscent of a ship's forecastle, the rim is gadrooned.

Each side of the jug is decorated with a stone coloured enamelled ground or band with low relief moulding. The moulding or sprigging is of an exotic bird by it's nest, in shrubbery and amongst numerous flowers. All the sprigged moulding is highlighted with poly-chrome enamels in pink, green, orange, red, yellow, brown and blue. 

There are no makers marks but, it is most probably Staffordshire in origin.

The jug stands approximately 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) high, the diameter at the widest point is 4 3/4 inches (1.8 cm) overall length spout to handle 7 inches (17.8 cm). It weighs 512 grammes unpacked. 

This jug or pitcher is in excellent antique condition with one tiny glaze chip to the right hand side of the edge of the spout, no cracks nor restoration. There is some rubbing to the lustre decoration on the edge high points particularly the handle, commensurate with the age and use. This is a lovely item to add to any collection of lustreware or early 19th century jugs.