19th Century Stoneware Floral Slip Decorated Jug Burger Bros & Co

Majestic stoneware slip decorated 2 Gallon jug showing a dominant single cobalt floral design attributed to “Burger Bros. & Co, Rochester, New York “circa 1877 ~ 1880” ( having a stamped makers mark). Features a heavy slip trailed single tilting flower while a main stem connects a series of stylized opposing leaves in the center field. Dressed with an array of summer faux florals in addition to an American flag this piece is ready to display for the fourth of July and beyond.

Burger Bros. & Co. was an iconic American pottery company located in Rochester, New York and was known for their vivid heavily applied cobalt designs lending a folk-art appearance. Brothers John Burger, Jr. and George Burger ran the shop from 1867 to 1870. They are famous for cobalt blue slip-trailed floral decorations. In 1867, John Burger turned the business over to his sons, John Burger, Jr. and George Burger. He left the company in 1877 and the Burger’s two sons continued as “Burger and Co.” (1877-1880).

Jug has some raised clay deposits limited to the front location. There are also a couple chips (one larger than the other) located on the top rim along with another chip near the bottom edge that occurred long ago and represents an example of utilitarian pieces that were used on a daily basis. This jug held liquids like molasses, vinegar, or liquor and were constantly lifted and tilted by their heavy handles. The rim was highly prone to taking hard strikes from heavy wooden corks, ladles, or the edges of stone sinks and counters.

A cluster of visible fishers on the back near the middle section are a classic production trait of 19th century stoneware. A couple of large tan colored circles located on the back are referred to as “fly-ash or shielding circles” caused by the stacking process in the kiln. Apparently, another jug was stacked upside down or at an angle resting near the shoulder of this jug while its circular base or rim shielded that specific patch of clay from the swirling, vaporized salt gases inside the kiln firebox. Because the vaporized salt could not reach those shielded spots, the glaze never turned into the shiny, gray-speckled glass coating found on the rest of this jug. Instead, it fired as the bare, exposed, tan/buff-colored stoneware clay. The fact that one circle is larger than the other indicates that the jug next to it shifted, or two different parts of neighboring kiln-ware made contact with the shoulder.

There is a tight horizontal crack on the handle along with a small dot of white paint near the top. Some minor flaking or “spalling” is confined to the flower as well as the joined bottom main stem due to the heavily applied cobalt slip and appears to be firmly fused. The cobalt oxide—a heavy mineral applied as a pigment—shrinks at a different rate than the underlying stoneware clay body when fired. Over time the cobalt oxide separates from the stoneware it was applied to.

Each piece of pottery seems to tell its own story as far as how it was first thrown on the wheel, how the slip trail design was applied and lastly to the final process of firing in the kiln that truly adds history and helps define the individual character marks on these special creations. This solid jug displays well especially with the contents and will bring charming history along with patriotic flavor into your lovely home.

Overall height 25 ½” including the flag, jug by itself stands 15 ½” tall, opening measures 1 ¾” across and measures almost 8” across the bottom.