I bought the “Wizard’s Jug” at a local Flea Market in 2019 - I really like it, and I’d appreciate any information that you may be able to give me. It’s ca. 23cm high, brown clay with blue/green glaze and some of the clear glaze runs down the brown clay at the back and sides. A “grotesque” face looks out from the front, wearing a hooded cloak. I cannot see any damage at all, so well looked after... There is a “signature” etched into the base which seems to be French but I haven’t been able to get any luck from my g@@gle searches... As you have probably noticed, I am in no way an expert in ceramics, and therefore would be very grateful for any information /pointers /leads that you are able to give me. Thanks. PS.I noticed a whiteness in the close-ups of the face, it just sunlight reflection, the face is uniformly brown.
I really like this jug too, I can see why you wanted it. Are those plastic eyeballs glued into place? I cannot figure out what the "owl" (?) has sticking out beneath his beak? What is that?
The signature was not "etched in." It was scribed into the unfired clay by hand. I do not see this as being very old at all, maybe 10-20 years at most, maybe even brand new when you bought it. Has a serious "studio pottery" look and could very well have been made nearby to where you bought it. (Studio pottery often does not make it far away from the artist's studio.) I see you measured in metrics. What country did you find it in?
At first I thought it was a man's face & it was his pugnacious jaw, then I looked again after you called it an 'owl'. . .so perhaps meant to be the crop, except owls don't have a true crop. Instead there is a fusiform enlargement or widening of the esophagus.
