What is the difference between a claret jug and a water jug?

A claret jug is a tall glass jug for decanting and serving red wine, and it is the form most likely to carry a metal mount, handle or hinged lid. A water jug is the plainer table version. In practice the labels are close cousins in the listings, both usually clear glass and both usually cut or engraved. Claret is used a little more often than water.

Which period do most of these jugs come from?

Victorian is the label used most, appearing in around a third of titles, with Edwardian some way behind and Georgian and Regency thinner again. Art Deco is a small edge of the archive. Where an actual decade is recorded, the 1880s are the busiest on the books, and the 1860s to 1910s carry most of the weight. Dates in the record run from 1750 to 1960, with one Venetian-style jug catalogued around 1680.

How common are coloured glass jugs?

Coloured glass makes up about a quarter of the category, so it is a real second population rather than an occasional curiosity. Cranberry leads, followed by blue, Bristol blue and green. Amber, amethyst, turquoise, citrine, opaline, vaseline, ruby and Burmese each surface only a handful of times.

Do glass jugs usually have silver on them?

A good number do. Silver appears in roughly one title in nine, plated in fewer, and the mounts take the form of rims, collars, necks, lids and handles. A few jugs are pewter-topped instead. The rest are all glass. Metal-mounted pieces tend to sit in the upper half of the range.

Are jugs sold singly or in sets?

Singly, most of the time. Pairs, jug-and-goblet trios, water sets with tumblers, jug-and-bowl sets and full drinks services form a steady minority. Cream jugs are the exception to watch for, since they often come paired with a matching sugar bowl.

What unusual forms turn up in this category?

Odd shapes drift through the record: a jug with an integral ice compartment, a champagne jug, a cocktail mixing jug, an oil-and-vinegar jug and a wash basin and jug. A tantalus fitted with cut crystal jugs has passed through, as has a silver-mounted novelty monkey jug that sits at the very top of the range on its own.