Antique Wedgwood Black Basalt Engine Turned Milk Jug, 10cm

This elegant small milk jug is a fine example of early Wedgwood black basalt, displaying the refined neo‑classical styling that made the factory famous in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Standing approximately 10cm high, it is delicately potted and carefully proportioned, with a tall, slender body rising from a spreading circular foot and finishing in a graceful, upswept lip designed for clean pouring. The matte, charcoal‑black body is characteristic of basalt stoneware, a dense, unglazed ceramic developed by Josiah Wedgwood to imitate the look of polished bronze or antique stone.

The exterior of the jug is engine turned, producing a series of crisp vertical flutes running around the body. This mechanical decoration, executed on a lathe while the clay was still leather‑hard, gives the surface a subtle play of light and shadow and reflects Wedgwood’s interest in precision tooling and industrial finesse. The fluting is sharply defined from shoulder to lower body, ending just above the base and emphasising the refined, urn‑like silhouette. Above this, the neck is left plain, allowing the sinuous curve of the rim and the purity of the basalt body to take visual focus.

The handle is delicately formed, with a lightly flattened outer edge and an elegant inward curl at the terminal. It is well balanced in relation to the spout, offering a comfortable grip despite the jug’s modest scale. The rim is subtly lobed when viewed from above, with a higher rear section rising behind the handle and a pronounced forward lip that provides a precise pouring edge. Inside, the glaze‑like sheen results from burnishing of the basalt body rather than a true glaze, a typical finishing technique that enhances both depth of colour and resistance to staining.

The base shows the impressed WEDGWOOD mark, confirming manufacture by the renowned Staffordshire firm. Around the mark are incidental tool and turner’s marks consistent with hand finishing in the period. The underside retains the dry, fine‑grained texture expected of genuine basalt stoneware, and the footrim shows only light wear, in keeping with careful domestic use rather than heavy service. Overall condition is very good throughout, with no obvious cracks or structural damage visible in the images; only the usual minor surface specks and light rubbing commensurate with age.

This compact jug would originally have formed part of a tea or coffee service, used for serving milk or cream. Today it is an attractive and versatile collector’s piece that displays beautifully on an open shelf or within a cabinet of neo‑classical ceramics. Its restrained decoration and pure black body make it an ideal companion to other basalt wares, jasperware, or to contrast with white porcelain. For decorators and collectors alike, it offers an authentic example of Wedgwood’s technical innovation and classical design, encapsulated in a small yet highly sculptural form.