Jug

Tin casters made objects from an alloy of tin, copper, lead and other metals. Cast and chiselled objects such as bottles, bowls, salt barrels and jugs were used as elements of furnishings in churches, castles and wealthy homes. From the 15th to the mid-19th century, over a hundred tin casting craftsmen were active in Szczecin. One of them was Simon Jante from Königsberg, who received civic rights in 1580. For a long time he was credited with the making of sarcophagi of Pomeranian dukes, Boguslaw XIII (1606) and Duchess Ursula, who was buried in Słupsk (1611). The lack of signatures on both coffins makes it impossible to determine whether Simon Jante was one of the court craftsmen. In 1991, the Szczecin antique market saw a Renaissance jug with a city punch featuring a griffin, and the initials S.J. This inscription, along with additional inscriptions on the lid, indicated that the object was made by Simon Jante. This lent credence to the thesis that he worked for the ducal court and may have carried out other works, including the sarcophagi.

Anna Lew-Machniak