A rare and beautiful late 16th century ‘Bellarmine’ jug dated 1599. This type of salt-glazed stoneware was produced in various towns along the Rhine from the 16th–18th centuries. This specific vessel was probably manufactured in the town of Frechen near Cologne. It bears three applied medallions each with two merchants marks and the inscription ‘AL DE DIE ETP’ and the date 99 for 1599. The moulded face mask is detailed and expressive.

These vessels are also known as ‘Bartmann’ - bearded man, or Greybeard jugs. The bearded face on the neck of the jugs is thought to represent the Wild Man found in the popular mythology of the period. The stoneware vessels are also known as ‘Bellarmine’ jugs because of their resemblance to the Catholic cardinal, Roberto Bellarmino, 1542–1621 – a strong opponent of Protestantism who wanted to ban alcohol. To mock the unpopular Catholic cardinal, Protestant Germans drank ale and wine from stoneware jugs which they nicknamed ‘Bellarmines’ because the bearded faces on the jugs had an uncanny resemblance to the much-hated cardinal who was overweight with long flowing facial hair.

Due to the robust nature of stoneware, these jugs were often used to transport wine from Northern Germany to England. Probably because of the anthropomorphic form and grotesque face-mask, Bellarmine jugs were sometimes used as ‘witch bottles.’ As a defence against witchcraft, the bottles were filled with various objects that were supposed to protect the owner and harm or discourage the witch. Urine, menstrual blood, hair and nail clippings, rusty iron nails, needles, pins, cloth hearts, and other charms were placed in the witch bottle before it was sealed with a cork. It was commonly believed that a witch bottle could capture an evil spirit which would be impaled by the nails and pins and drowned by the urine. Another theory is that the bulbous shape of the Bellarmine jug represented the witch’s bladder. “The nails and the bent pins would supposedly aggravate the witch when she urinated and torment her so badly that she would take the spell back off you,” explains Alan Massey from the University of Loughborough.

A witch bottle was believed to be effective against evil spirits as long as the bottle remained hidden and unbroken. To guard the entrances to the home, the witch bottles were strategically concealed beneath the fireplace hearth or buried under the doorsteps or threshold into the house to prevent witches and evil spirits from entering. They are still sometimes discovered during renovations to old buildings.

A wonderful early example with minor restoration, fine style with a beautiful light-coloured salt glaze, an iconic piece of renaissance pottery.

Dimensions: mm. x mm.