Royal Worcester hand painted claret jug

Description

Royal Worcester hand painted claret jug. Item 2447.

Royal Worcester offered four sizes of this claret jug shape, the shape being number 1047, which was first issued in 1884. This one stands 224 mm (8.75 inches) high and measures 83 mm (3.25 inches) across the base.  This example is decorated to the front with a hand painted spray of red poppies and golden ears of wheat on a blush ivory ground. To the left of the poppies is an insect striding along on one of the ears of wheat. The rear is decorated with a single poppy and a capsule that remains after the petals have dropped off. Poppies were a popular motif in the Art Nouveau period. The handle and the raised prunus blossom to the top have been gilded by William Phipps (1885-1960) who moved over from Hadley’s, and later became the foreman gilder at Royal Worcester for the period 1938-45, before retiring in 1950. It is in very good condition, and carries the date mark for 1904.