Victorian Treacle-Glaze Bargeware Jug, Camden Town, London, England, 1882

Description

In the final group photograph of Bargeware, the 19th c. watercolour of the Boat Children is by Myles Birket Foster.

A marvellous pottery jug with a wonderful social history, made to order for the Barge people on the inland sailing boats travelling on canal trading routes from North to the South of England. With a small deposit, the Bargee’s could place orders and commissions on the way up and pick up on return if ready and distribute throughout the country.

In the 1860s, a wonderful new range of pottery began to be produced on a small scale at a potbank in Church Gresley, Derbyshire. Previously, in the early 19th century, “Caneware” pottery was produced here, named this because of a naturally occurring straw coloured earthenware clay, but from about the late 1860s the pottery was taken over by a Mr. William Mason and these “Bargewares” were produced from this clay and glazed with a rich “Rockingham”-style treacle glaze. This pottery became known as “Meashamware”, only because of sales from the high street china-shop in the local town of Measham, but it was actually made in a works adjacent to the Moira Cut (Ashby Canal) at Pool Village, nearby in Church Gresley.

Our marvellous ornamental Bargeware jug commissioned for Ellen Benbow (a fine nautical name) of Camden Town in 1882, will have come down from the Midlands on the Grand Union to the (Prince) Regent’s Canal where Camden Lock is situated.

Date
1882

Dimensions
6” H x 4” W x 5” D O/A approx.    (including handle)

Condition
In excellent condition with minor wear commensurate with age and use.

Price
£275   $333-USD

Ref Number: 321010A
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