A Bartmann, Bellarmine, Grey Beard or D’Avla jug? The English and their relationship with the Frechen stoneware jug

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Bartmann Goes Global - Exploring the Cultural Contexts, Meaning and Use of Bellarmine Jugs Across the Globe", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The English seemingly had a distinct and unique relationship as consumers of the Frechen stoneware during the early modern period. The widespread trade and use of the vessels centred on London, the Eastern and South-east regions of England in particular led to their representation in contemporary plays and texts and it is here they became labelled as Bellarmines, named after the Italian cardinal Roberto Bellarmine with particular anti-Protestant sentiments. It was a term not apparently used outside the British Isles. This paper explores the lexicon of terms applied to the bottles, to the dynamics trade, and introduces evidence of their use from various sites in England, including their re-use as ‘witch bottles’ in England.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Bartmann Goes Global - Exploring the Cultural Contexts, Meaning and Use of Bellarmine Jugs Across the Globe   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow