Bartmann jugs were a part of everyday culture, enjoyed equally by everyone from ordinary folk to high society. They are found in a wide range of cultural contexts, including: 

  • Dutch genre paintings of the 17th century. 

  • German paintings and other images. 

  • Contemporary literature and other written sources. 

  • So-called ‘witch bottles’ dating from the 1650s in England. 

  • Understand their role as drinking vessels by using archaeological and historical evidence.

We’re weaving together lots of different sources to explore roles Bartmann jugs played in different cultural contexts since they were first made in the early modern period (1500-1800). We’ve chosen to focus on some key research questions to understand their significance and their role in early modern culture. Expand the boxes below to read more about these. 

We aren’t just focusing on Europe. As our project name suggests, we’re looking at Bartmann jugs on a global scale. We’ll explore their significance and meaning in colonial contexts, as well as their reception and use by indigenous populations.

Our research questions

How does the amount Bartmann jugs hold compare to standard measures used at the time? 

In the 1500s-1800s Germany, the Netherlands, and England all had different standard measurements. This meant that a gallon of water (or wine!) in Berlin was different to one in London or Amsterdam. This might be difficult if you were making a jug to be used in all three countries!  

We’re developing a method to measure how much liquid the different types of Bartmann jugs could hold, using 3D models and scanning. 

What impact did Bartmann jugs have on drinking culture in England and Germany? 

We’re looking at evidence of the social and cultural context of drinking in England and Germany in the 1500s-1800s. This includes analysing jugs found during archaeological excavations of drinking establishments – that's places like inns, pubs, taverns and alehouses – in London and Germany.  

We’ll also explore how these connect to other finds from the sites including containers for storing and serving alcohol, hot beverages and clay pipes used to smoke tobacco. Our findings will be compared to previous research by archaeologists in England and Germany. 

What was the cultural impact of the Bartmann jug?

We’re really interested in exploring what the Bartmann jugs meant, apart from their use as storage for wine and other drinks. For example, drinking and serving vessels in German and Dutch paintings during this period were usually symbols which had a special meaning.  

We want to find out how the Bartmann jugs with their human-like faces fit into this. We’ll also explore how these jugs became part of popular culture.