Jug types

Currently, we describe the physical characteristics of Bartmann jugs differently in each country where they are found and studied. We also have different ways of describing the times periods they date to. A key aim of our project is to bring together all our knowledge to create a standard framework to record and date the different jug types

This framework is called a typochronology. This will help us lay out how the jugs’ features changed over time. We can use this to date each jug based on how they look.

Creating a Bartmann typochronology

Our research will help us trace the development of Bartmann jugs, starting with the first production in Köln. We’ll see how elements of their design were transferred between the other production centres in the Rhineland, as well as copies made in England.

Our new illustrated typochronology will be made widely available online. Our aim is that anyone interested in Bartmann can use it to accurately date and describe their jug.

How will we create our Bartmann typochronology?

We’ll examine Bartmann jugs in museum and archive collections. We’ll develop classifications by looking at:

Heraldic medallions: Linked to specific individuals or families.

Merchant symbols: Information about the seller.

Silver mounts: When present, these can provide additional clues.

Images of Bartmann jugs in paintings: Offering context and potential dating information.

We’ll examine jugs found at well-dated archaeological sites, which will help us date our Bartmann types as accurately as possible. We'll focus on archaeological ‘time capsules’, sites where the items haven’t been moved or disturbed before excavation. These include:

Shipwrecks

Waste pits from production sites.

Rubbish pits and wells

We’ll compare jug shapes, decorative elements, and combinations of different features on Bartmann jugs to other Bartmann jugs with known dates. This will help us find out whether certain shapes of jug or features are associated with a particular period.