Featured Mystery transferware pitcher - French? Staffordshire? other? ceramic jug

Hello folks! Seeking any help on offer to ID this shabby beauty I picked up today - no marks, eccentric pastiches of styles and quite flamboyant with that serpent handle Does anyone recognise the pattern / style? I bought it in France but can't shake the idea that it's English make (not sure why though just the feels!). Not sure if looking mid-late 19th century or even possibly starting influences of Art Nouveau with that twisted form. I'm a little confused by it! Any help very much appreciated

 

Isn't that sweet? Love the little twisty shape.

Debora

 

Yes it's a sweetie! Twisty and couldn't be more tea stained, two things I love

Now just have to find out where it came from!

 

It's just so pretty! I would've jumped on that too!

 

Chocolate pot? Great design.

 

it's so cute......with actual crazing that I like !!

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/brief-history-chocolate-pot-180954241/

https://frenchgardenhouse.com/item_...oges-Lavender-Blue-Clematis-Chocolate-Pot.htm

 

Morning all! thanks to all who have replied, glad it seems to be striking the right chord even if we don't know who it is, or where it came from

@Bronwen though the size seems right, I don't think that it's a chocolate pot - not a lidded one anyway. There's no sign it ever had a lid, and would be a devil of a design to make a lid for as all the edge is scalloped and fluted. So I'm sure it's just an open jug design.

My husband suggested that it might be a training piece as it's small but so worked up with a number of techniques. But I'm not sure as the extravagant form is one piece from a mold so it was likely in production. However, the transferware is exceptionally well applied, despite being fiendishly difficult on this undulating surface, so maybe?? This could explain why it is unmarked.

In terms of makers, I think in France perhaps Orchies - they did both majolica and transferware so could have produced this meeting of styles and techniques. But it seems more likely to me that it could be one of the Staffordshire makers, a lot of designs that come up on image match are from Staffordshire and a lot of those wares made their way to France. Like this one for example: Antique Victorian Era Floral Flow Blue Pitcher Art Nouveau - Etsy Spain

Also, would love to know how would you describe this piece? I think it's late 19th Century probably c 1880-1890. The transferware design and the handle show no trace of Art Nouveau to my mind, but I see that the twisted form is almost always described as Art Nouveau...so I must ask the experts: what say you??

Thanks so much again! Hope you're have a lovely weekend

 

I don't see anything art nouveau in the pattern. Maybe it's just the staining, but my idle guess would be much earlier in the 19th C, like first half.

 

Thank you @moreotherstuff I think perhaps could be earlier too...possibly just the constant references to Art Nouveau for the twisted shape persuading me later. Would love to hear more opinions if anyone else wants to weigh in!

 

Here's one I found through google images. Very similar and twisty, but clearly, this seller doesn't know a thing about it. Interesting to note that there are different sizes. Also, the tea stain color looks intentional to me.

https://resurrect-antiques.myresaleweb.com/item/small-flower-pitcher?id=46271

 

This is a guess, but I think your pitcher got caught in a fire at one time. Probably hastily retrieved, but too late to prevent all the damage. And, "twisty shape" notwithstanding, it looks English to me.

(My grandmother collected pitchers. )

 

What type of creature might you say the handle is supposed to be? Might be an eel? Could be a good start for key words on Google. Although I tried eel and didnt get very far.

 

It's a duck-billed, long-haired swan, of course!

 

a snake.......with a nice haircut !

 

I'd say the handle is meant to be a dolphin.

 

This guy has a similar face...

https://www.antiquesboutique.com/an...her-jug-devonshire-1884/itm36232#.ZDLokFVw01I

 

Milk jug, maybe. But not chocolate pot without a lid. It could be English, but I'm not certain. I also think second half of the 19th c.

 

Simply GORGEOUS and OH SOOO Sweet!!!!

 

I think it's just staining from use with coffee / gravy / gloopy french sauces It's possible it has been kept hot on a wood stove at some point, but fire damage wouldn't be as all over as this is, and on the inside too.

I think probably English too, but still haven't found that handle anywhere!