Crimean War Ceramic Jug

A Staffordshire pottery transfer printed Jug with scenes from the Battle of Balaclava.

The jug has a swan neck handle and stepped base. Floral border transfers decorate the handle, below the top edge, the interior edge and the base. The two sides of the jug are decorated with transfers of battle scenes from the Crimean War.

One side is titled 'Charge Of The Scots Greys At Balaclava' whilst the other is titled 'Charge Of The Chasseurs D'Afrique At Balaclava'. Balaclava was fought on the 25th of October 1854 between the British, French and Turks against Russians. It is famous for the Charge of the Light Brigade but other notable events were the Charge of the Heavy Brigade and the Thin Red Line.

The Heavy Brigade, with the Scots Greys leading, were successful in their charge against the Russian Cavalry who were descending into the South Valley from the Causeway Heights. The French colonial Chasseurs D'Afrique attacked the Russians on the Fedioukine Hills to prevent them from firing on the Light Brigade as they retreated from the Valley of Death.

Commemorative ceramics such as this capitalised on the patriotism of the British public at times of War. It was natural for potters to focus on two of the positive points from the battle of Balaclava rather than the disastrous Charge of The Light Brigade. The action of the Chasseurs D'Afrique also no doubt endeared them to the British public. William Russel described the battle for The Times and the potteries would have been fairly quick on picking up on his correspondence.

The moulded jug is unmarked but an example with gilt high lights and the round mark of P.W. & Co. Imperial Granite is known. The initials stand for Podmore, Walker & Co., a company founded by Thomas Podmore around 1830 in Tunstall. Thomas Walker joined in 1835 and the name changed. It changed again when Enoch Wedgewood joined in 1856 before the pottery became known simply as Wedgwood in 1859, although they had no connection to the more famous Josiah Wedgwood.

The Jug commemorates a famous battle in British history and is interesting for showing a regiment from another country. Circa 1856.