Westerwald
(1300 - 1800)
Pottery production in the Westerwald region is known from the beginning of the 15th century, but an influx of migrant potters from Siegburg and Raeren helped establish the stoneware industry towards the end of the 16th century. The region was centred to the east of the Rhine between the Rivers Sieg and Lahn, with principal production sites at Grenzau, Grenzhausen and Höhr. It then spread from these towns to outlying sites at Hilgert, Hillscheid, Ransbach, Baumbach, Mogendorf and Vallender. The identification of vessels from particular workshops has proved to be difficult, due to the similarities between the products and the clays used by these production sites, resulting in the application of a regional term for their collective output. The industry grew in the 17th century and remained strong well into the 18th and 19th centuries, with exports not only to Britain, but also Australasia, Africa and America. In London it was imported in bulk until the end of the 19th century.
Typical features of Westerwald stoneware are a fine, white-firing clay with a plastic body, ranging in colour from a light to mid-grey. The surface is usually treated with a salt glaze, giving the characteristic 'orange peel' effect, with the addition of cobalt blue and manganese purple (after 1650) painted details. These two colours were the only ones capable of withstanding the high-firing temperatures of the stoneware kilns. However some pieces were produced with a monochrome body, and applied relief decoration (6514).
Forms produced in the Westerwald tradition consisted largely of mugs, jugs and chamber pots. Those items in the Museum of London's collection include several chamber pots of type 2 classification, with flat, flanged rims (L231/1). These were very popular imports to London during the mid 19th century (1740-1760). Drinking vessels include short tankards or mugs (A1420), globular drinking mugs (11278a) and larger, more ornate tankards.
Related objects
There are 111 related objects.6513 jug. | 17367 jug. | 62.114/1 bottle; mineral water bottle.  | 26521 bottle; mineral water bottle.  |
25617 mug.  | 25396 mug.  | 25243 mug.  | 25189 mug.  |
25183 jug.  | 25164 tankard.  | 25158 jug.  | 24940 bottle; mineral water bottle.  |
24389 jug; drinking jug.  | 23862 chamber pot.  | 23861 chamber pot.  | 22682 mug.  |
21265 chamber pot.  | 21129 jug.  | 17366 jug.  | 17365 jug.  |
17364 jug.  | 11278a jug; drinking jug.  | 10268a jug.  | 6593 tankard.  |