Pair of blue cut glass Bordeaux claret jugs in silver mount CHARLES THOMAS FOX GEORGE FOX London 1840 1841.
Ceramics

English claret jugs

by gxeniya

On the pages of foreign auctions, antique wine jugs are often referred to as Bordeaux jugs or claret jugs. With Bordeaux, everything is clear. The famous French region of Bordeaux is known throughout the world. But what is a claret? You will not find such wine in the store, but the word itself is vaguely familiar from the works of Dickens and other classics.

Early Victorian fisheye cut green glass jar in a renaissance style silver frame Charles Reilly and George Storer London 1841.
Early Victorian fisheye cut green glass jar in a renaissance style silver frame Charles Reilly and George Storer London 1841. English claret jugs.

Already at the end of the XIV century, the popularity of the claret among the British was exceptionally high. So, it is known that only in 1374, 75 million liters of wines of this category were brought to England from France. Thus, taking into account the population of the country during this period – about two million people, the per capita consumption of claret was more than 30 liters per year.

Olivier de Serres, one of the founders of modern agronomy, left a very figurative description of the color scheme of the claret. In his opinion, the lightest of these wines had “the color of a dying partridge’s eye”, and the darkest – “the color of a ruby in the light of the rising sun.” Also an acceptable shade in his understanding was “the color of pink hyacinth with a note of orange.”

Early Victorian claret jug in ruby glass in a silver setting Charles Reilly and George Storer London 1840. Claret jugs.
Early Victorian claret jug in ruby glass in a silver setting Charles Reilly and George Storer London 1840. English claret jugs.
Victorian askos jar in the form of an ancient Greek vessel in frosted glass in a silver frame William Ely London 1837.
Victorian askos jar in the form of an ancient Greek vessel in frosted glass in a silver frame William Ely London 1837.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the claret enjoyed universal popularity in Great Britain: it was one of the main alcoholic beverages both among ordinary people and at the top of society – up to the royal family. So, for example, in 1806, for a reception on the occasion of a visit to Liverpool by the Prince of Wales – the future King George IV – the city hall ordered a crystal service, which included a set of claret glasses. The prince was so impressed with the service that he asked the mayor to order the same for his residence – Carlton House.

The Princess of Wales, wife of the future King Edward VII, gave this decanter at Christmas 1882 to Francis Lakeing (1847–1914), Royal Physician to Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V. Engraved on the front of the jug is “From Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, 1882” , and the monogram “FHL Xmas 1882” on the lid.

Victorian claret pitcher in silver framed cranberry glass engraved with plants and a flying stork Charles Mappin The Mappin Brothers Sheffield 1883.
Victorian claret pitcher in silver framed cranberry glass engraved with plants and a flying stork Charles Mappin The Mappin Brothers Sheffield 1883.

Despite the fact that in many countries of the world the concept of “claret” in everyday life continues to be used very widely, the official use of this term in winemaking is quite limited: it occasionally appears in the names of certain types of red wines produced in some countries of Europe, South America, Australia and South Africa .

In the town of San Asensio, which is located in the north of the Spanish province of Rioja, every year at the end of July, a folk fun called the “Battle of the Clareta” (Spanish: Batalla del clarete) is held and is one of the main local cultural attractions. The townspeople are divided into two “armies” and with the help of wineskins, buckets, pumps and other devices pour claret on their opponents – as, as already mentioned above, any red table wine is called in modern Spain. Usually, during such fun, at least 30 thousand liters of wine are poured, which is provided free of charge by local producers.

Victorian glass bordeaux jug in silver gilt setting Edward H. Stockwell London 1882.
Victorian glass bordeaux jug in silver gilt setting Edward H. Stockwell London 1882.
Silver rimmed glass jar George Fox London 1881.
Silver rimmed glass jar George Fox London 1881.
Victorian silver jug Armada Elkington Co. London 1896.
Victorian silver jug Armada Elkington Co. London 1896.
Pair of blue cut glass Bordeaux claret jugs in silver mount CHARLES THOMAS FOX GEORGE FOX London 1840 1841.
Pair of blue cut glass Bordeaux claret jugs in silver mount CHARLES THOMAS FOX GEORGE FOX London 1840 1841.
Victorian silver jug Henry Wilkinson Co London 1867.
Victorian silver jug Henry Wilkinson Co London 1867.
Corrugated glass jug in silver gilt frame with vines CHARLES THOMAS FOX GEORGE FOX London 1844.
Corrugated glass jug in silver gilt frame with vines CHARLES THOMAS FOX GEORGE FOX London 1844.
Victorian Bordeaux jug in engraved glass in silver gilt setting William and George Sisson Sheffield 1877.
Victorian Bordeaux jug in engraved glass in silver gilt setting William and George Sisson Sheffield 1877.
Etched glass victorian jar set in gilded silver William and George Sisson Sheffield 1866.
Etched glass victorian jar set in gilded silver William and George Sisson Sheffield 1866.
Engraved glass Bordeaux pitcher in silver gilt frame William and George Sisson Sheffield 1878.
Engraved glass Bordeaux pitcher in silver gilt frame William and George Sisson Sheffield 1878.
English claret jugs Victorian Bordeaux glass jar in an elaborate silver gilt setting Edward H. Stockwell London 1872.
Victorian Bordeaux glass jar in an elaborate silver gilt setting Edward H. Stockwell London 1872.
English claret jugs Victorian glass jug in silver gilt frame Edward Charles Brown London 1879.
Victorian glass jug in silver gilt frame Edward Charles Brown London 1879.
Finely engraved victorian glass claret jugs in a silver frame Frederick Elkington Birmingham 1878 1879.
Finely engraved victorian glass claret jugs in a silver frame Frederick Elkington Birmingham 1878 1879.
Japanese style Victorian Bordeaux glass pitcher in a silver frame in the form of three water lilies surrounding a bud shaped neck with a drop flower Walter Thornhill London 1882.
Japanese style Victorian Bordeaux glass pitcher in a silver frame in the form of three water lilies surrounding a bud shaped neck with a drop flower Walter Thornhill London 1882.
Scottish Amber Glass Pitcher in Silver Mount Hamilton Inches Edinburgh 1885.
Scottish Amber Glass Pitcher in Silver Mount Hamilton Inches Edinburgh 1885.
Victorian glass bordeaux jug in silver frame Cellini Pattern George Fox London 1891.
Victorian glass bordeaux jug in silver frame Cellini Pattern George Fox London 1891.
Victorian Bordeaux glass jug in silver gilt frame Frederic Bradford McCrea London 1893.
Victorian Bordeaux glass jug in silver gilt frame Frederic Bradford McCrea London 1893.
Fancy Victorian glass jar in silver frame with gilt Gothic Revival Edward Dimes London 1894.
Fancy Victorian glass jar in silver frame with gilt Gothic Revival Edward Dimes London 1894.
Alhambra glass jar in gilded silver frame in Islamic Persian style Stephen Smith London 1882.
Alhambra glass jar in gilded silver frame in Islamic Persian style Stephen Smith London 1882.
English claret jugs Etched glass jar made by Thomas Webb in a gilded silver frame Charles Edwards London 1893.
Etched glass jar made by Thomas Webb in a gilded silver frame Charles Edwards London 1893.
English claret jugs English claret jugs Etched glass jar made by Thomas Webb in silver frame John Bodman Carrington London 1893.
Etched glass jar made by Thomas Webb in silver frame John Bodman Carrington London 1893.
English claret jugs Silver mounted glass jar James Dixon Sons London 1893.
Silver mounted glass jar James Dixon Sons London 1893.
English claret jugs Etched glass pitcher in a silver frame Edward Hutton London 1893.
Etched glass pitcher in a silver frame Edward Hutton London 1893. English claret jugs.

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