This large lead glazed "belly" pitcher is over a hundred years old and in very good condition! Its dark orange color will make it the focal point of any room! Whimsical decorations on the front, back and one side were hand applied in green, for added charm. It has incised rings about two thirds down and again near the bottom. The lovely, applied handle is excellent with no stress cracks to worry about.
The glaze stops short of the very bottom of the sides and the underside is completely free of glaze. Pitchers like these were used in the 19th century to store liquids. They were kept fresh by putting redware vessles on the dirt floors of houses with cellars in that time period. The lack of glaze on the bottom of the pitcher allowed it to draw in the cool temperatures of the ground, thus keeping the contents cold but not contaminated since the interior of the pitcher is glazed.
This one is in very good condition. It measures 10 14 inches tall, has a base diameter of 4 3/4 inches and an opening that measures 4 3/4 inches across, including the spout. The belly (widest portion) measures about 8 inches in diameter. A very beautiful item!
