Snake-form handles turn up across a fair range of Victorian pottery, generally chosen for the coiling shape's practicality as much as any deeper symbolism — a curled snake naturally forms an ergonomic grip in a way a straight handle doesn't. These jugs take the form further than most, with high-relief scales and painted eyes giving each snake real presence rather than treating it as a purely functional afterthought.
The relief decoration on the bodies pairs an unusual choice of subject with the copper lustre finish: one side shows Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus, the other Jesus preaching, both scenes moulded rather than painted, so the imagery has genuine dimension to it. Green scrolling is worked into the lustre glaze as an additional layer of decoration, a colour combination that sits a little outside copper lustreware's usual palette of golds and coppers alone. Pairs of jugs surviving together with matching decoration are harder to come by than single examples, since the two rarely stayed together through generations of handling and use.
Condition notes
Very good antique condition. One pitcher has a small chip to spout.
