A German salt-glazed stoneware Bellarmine jug (Bartmannkrug), produced at Frechen or Cologne in the Rhineland during the first half of the 17th century.
Of traditional form and decorated with a distinctive moulded bearded mask - an expressive grimacing face.
The body bears a single applied oval medallion depicting a rampant lion within a decorative border. The bottle has been dipped in a slip wash giving it a rich brown tone with characteristic drips below to the foot.
A typical example of early Rhenish stoneware, displaying the distinctive bearded mask and applied relief decoration associated with the Frechen & Cologne potteries.
Origin: Frechen or Cologne, Germany Date: First half of the 17th century, circa 1600–1650
Condition: Large section of the left side has been re-stuck with restorative fill around the seam. Ditto for the handle. Please check photos carefully.
