Jug

Although the word jug now also has a pejorative meaning (in Polish it signifies a fool), and the expression kruża is now very rarely used, both refer to household utensils that have had a wide range of usage over the centuries. Jugs were used to carry and store liquids or, less frequently, dry materials. They came in a variety of forms, but those most typical of Central Europe, including Pomerania, featured a bulbous, squat belly, a wide mouth, sometimes without a separate neck, and a spout for easier pouring, as well as an upright handle. They were produced in the pottery workshops of craftsmen, which primarily catered to rural customers, using various types of clay, as glass and metal jugs were not very popular in the countryside. The bisque varieties were the most affordable, as they were fired only once and at a slightly lower temperature. In order to increase the functionality of the jugs and to minimise their permeability, they were covered before firing with engobe (slipware) or glaze, which additionally protected the vessels from the effects of acids by means of a vitreous and hard coating. For reasons of saving material and production time, glazes were mainly used to cover the inside of the vessel. The outer surfaces of jugs and pitchers were embellished with various decorative motifs, usually involving geometric and floral designs. The featured jug represents the simplest and, at the same time, the cheapest form of this vessel, as demonstrated by the lack of a glaze and minimalist decoration. Iwona Karwowska