“Farmers Arms” harvest jug, c.1805

An English pearlware “Dutch” shape jug made in Staffordshire, England in the early 1800’s. It is decorated on both sides with a black transfer decoration with red & yellow overglaze washes and silver lustre bands at the top and bottom. Although it has been beat up over the past 200+ years, is riddled with numerous chips and cracks and lost its original handle along the way, I am glad to have plucked it from near oblivion.

The banner proclaims “INDUSTRY PRODUCETH WEALTH” along with images including a bee hive, shafts of wheat and farm tools.

Jug measures 4-3/4″ tall.

Below a banner which reads “TRUST IN GOD” is the verse:

“SUCCESS TO THE FLEECE

THE PLOUGH AND THE PAIL

MAY TAXES GROW LESS

AND THE TENANT NE’ER FAIL”

The replacement metal handle with thumb rest has been painted silver to blend in and appear more pleasing.

A metal bolt, securing the metal handle to the body of the jug, can be seen from the inside of the fragile jug.

This example has the same form and silver lustre decoration as my jug and shows what the original handle might have looked like.

Photo courtesy of Powerhouse Museum

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3 Responses to ““Farmers Arms” harvest jug, c.1805”

  1. Larry Terricone says:

    Another beauty! Thank you for sharing. I love these pieces, I can identify with them, slightly used and damaged. I am im hot pursuit of a Make-Do in Ohio. Wish me luck

  2. Just discovered your blog and am totally fascinated! I love objects that show evidence of their life but did not realize how many intriguingly repaired items there were out there. My German immigrant grandfather was very thrifty like this although the items he owned and repaired were not as fine as those you feature. Interesting to speculate on the whether the reason for the repairs is love of the item or necessity.

  3. Gilda says:

    Love it! I have been a fan of old repairs for many years and am delighted to find I am not a lone lunatic. I have a similar-shaped lustre jug commemorating the election of Daniel O’Connell as MP for Clare in 1828 (important stage in Catholic Emancipation) with a tinker-made handle. I could not have afforded it perfect (it was several hundred £ anyway) but I actually like it better for its repair!

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