Beauvais scraffito jug

Sgraffito wares were produced in Italy and south west France from the 15th century. The technique was widely adopted across Northern Europe and Beauvais in Northern France became a major centre of production, producing wares with an off-white, buff or grey fabric. The range of forms was extensive, including large and small bowls, large and small jugs, albarelli, chafing dishes and costrels. Two kinds of decoration were employed . Single slipwares comprise a layer of red slip incised to expose the yellow-white fabric. Double-slipwares, as represented by the costrel, comprise a layer of yellow slip over a red slip; the latter scored to expose the layer of red underneath. This style is directly imitative of Italian sgraffito techniques. The decorative motifs did not distinguish between single and double sgraffito methods. There is a wide range of ornament including botanical subjects, geometric patterns, anthropomorphic designs, inscribed mottoes and proverbs. The flanges of large bowls often have crudely executed stylised leaf patterns. See J.G.H. Hurst, ,D.S.Neal, and H.J.E. van Beuningen, 1986 Pottery Produced and Traded in north-west Europe 1350-1650, Rotterdam Papers VII, Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam. pp, 108 and 110.