Fragment of a jug with a portrait of Christan II, Elector of Saxony c. 1590 - 1620

This stoneware jug, likely made in Germany between 1590 and 1620, features a raised portrait of Christian II, Elector of Saxony, in an oval medallion surrounded by a wreath of leaves. The background of the jug is decorated with a repeating pattern of stylized leaves and vines, executed in cobalt blue slip, a technique commonly used in German stoneware. This fragment of a jug demonstrates the craftsmanship of anonymous potters during the Renaissance, who used their skill to create functional works of art that combined religious and secular imagery.