Were these jugs used for water?

Many large vessels served as water pitchers or footbath jugs in bedrooms before modern plumbing arrived in domestic homes. Smaller examples functioned interchangeably for milk, water, or ale at the dining table depending on their capacity and shape.

How can I tell Georgian from Victorian pieces?

Georgian examples often utilise creamware or pearlware bodies with hand-painted or early transfer-printed historical subjects like the Boston State House. Victorian pieces frequently display heavier relief moulding, copper lustre finishes, majolica glazing, or porcelain compositions.

What does relief-moulded mean?

Relief moulding describes raised decorative patterns pressed into the clay body during the initial forming stage rather than painted on the surface. Potters often used this technique to create textured motifs such as cabbage leaves or architectural panels on the sides of jugs.