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Brass water jug with wrought iron handle. |
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Brass water jug with brass handle. The
design of this item can be seen as based on the principles of
form following function and truth to materials - or as purely
utilitarian. A feature which may distinguish it from the
similar jugs by many other makers is the narrowness of the
pouring lip.
The jug has been seen in a number of sizes, some
distinguished only by their base diameter which is marked on the
base. Three known examples carry the numbers 47, 49 and
51, which seem to indicate the base diameter.
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This container in brass has been noted in two
sizes. Its shape suggests that it may not have been
intended for domestic use. It has been seen being sold as
a measuring jug. |
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This design of container is usually attributed to
one of the Channel Islands and many were made there. This
one was made by Loveridge's and may simply be an attempt to make
something to offer in an existing market - a salesman's decision
rather than a design decision.
Vin Callcut writes: This is obviously not a hand-made
jug as is traditional in Guernsey. There they cut sections
from copper sheet, form them lightly, then join them together to
make the traditional spherical shape from either eight or
perhaps four pieces plus the neck and handles. This has the
sphere spun or deep drawn from two circles and lacks the
traditional vertical seams. The initial cost of the tooling
would soon be saved by low production costs that would undercut
the Guernsey craftsmen significantly.
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Water jug in copper. If the number of
surviving examples are anything to go by, this design sold well. |
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Small lidded water jug in brass. This seems
to be a jug rather than a tankard as it has a vestigial pouring
lip. From the Angeline Johnson collection. |
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Copper container with turned, ebonised, wooden
knob. The knob would not have been approved of by Dresser,
though the rest might have been. The raised lines around
the circumference act to give strength to the item as much as to
be a design element. It may be a kettle but Angeline
Johnson suggests that the spout indicates it may have been a
water jug. Courtesy of Vin Callcut. |
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Another brass jug in which the handle (heavily
repaired in this example) is one design element that could be
called Dresseresque. The thumb catch on the lid is badly
designed, being almost impossible to use in practice. |
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Copper jug with sharply angled handle. This
is another example of a design which is arguably influenced by
Dresser. |
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Another Dresseresque item, in brass. As it
has a vestigial pouring lip it is presumably a jug rather than a
tankard. The thumb catch on this is well designed and
works effectively. |
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Coffee can (?) in brass with turned ebonised
handle. |
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Water can in copper. |
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Brass water can, probably earlier and perhaps more
Dresseresque.
Photo by courtesy of Vin Callcut. |
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Brass water can with incredible handle.
Dresser had theories about the correct, utilitarian, design of
handles. It is not clear whether this handle accords with
those theories. But the simple geometric shape of the
handle is reminiscent of him.
Photo by courtesy of Jonof. |
