Jug 1807 - 1810

This jug was made by John W. Forbes, a New York silversmith who died in 1864. It is crafted from both stoneware and silver, and displays the contrast between the soft, porous clay and the hard, reflective metal. The lower portion of the jug features a scene of figures and dogs in relief, which would have been achieved by pressing clay into a mold. Notice the repeating dog motifs – a nod to the rise of industrialization and mass production during this period. The upper section and handle are formed of hand-wrought silver, with its smooth, planished surface, while the joinery is seamless and precise. The combination of materials speaks to the social context of the time, with the stoneware perhaps more accessible to a middle-class clientele, while the silver adds a touch of luxury. Forbes, as a silversmith, would have been highly skilled, with years of training, and would have understood how to combine the different media to create an object of both beauty and utility. This object challenges our ideas about the divide between fine art and craft.