Milk jug with cover 1775 - 1785

This delicately rendered milk jug was crafted in Gotha between 1757 and 1900, its surface telling a silent story of its time. Imagine for a moment the hands that held this jug, the tables it graced. During this period, the rise of the middle class intertwined with burgeoning industrialization. These cultural shifts are reflected on the jug in the figures of the boy, girl, and dog depicted on its side, symbols of domesticity and sentimental depictions of childhood which rose to prominence in art and culture. However, this idealized scene serves as a contrast to the backdrop of labor exploitation of the era, where children were often thrust into harsh working conditions. The jug invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between aesthetic beauty, social realities, and the unspoken stories embedded within everyday objects.