Vintage 1950s large enamel water/ milk jug. This large enamel jug has, at some time, been over painted black? Could easily be removed. Personally I love the look.
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Size: 33 cm tall 20 cm round at base.
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Some age related wear. Price is for jug only - all other items are illustration only.
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Enamel, a technique of fusing powdered glass to a surface, has a rich history spanning ancient civilizations to modern art and industry, with the earliest examples dating back to the 13th century BC in Cyprus.
Here's a more detailed look at the history of enamel:
Early Origins & Techniques:
Ancient Civilizations:
The practice of enameling can be traced back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks, who used crushed glass with color agents like cobalt or copper, applying it to metals and then fusing it with heat.
Mycenaean Period (13th century BC):
The earliest undisputed objects using enamel are a group of Mycenaean rings from Cyprus, dating to this period.
Cloisonné Technique:
The earliest enamel all used the cloisonné technique, placing the enamel within small cells with gold walls, a technique used to hold pieces of stone and gems tightly in place since the 3rd millennium BC.
Byzantine Empire:
The Byzantine Empire saw a flourishing of enameling, with intricate designs adorning royal regalia and religious artifacts.
Renaissance Period:
European artisans refined enamel techniques during the Renaissance, making enameling popular with royalty and nobility.
Enameling Techniques and Styles:
Champlevé: A technique where enamel is inlaid into depressions in the metal, leaving metal exposed.
Plique-à-jour: A technique using translucent colored enamels to create a stained-glass effect.
Basse-taille: A technique using gold and silver objects with enameling.
