Small Cream Ceramic Jug with Mustard Spiral

A small, softly tapered ceramic jug in a glossy cream glaze, with a neat pouring lip. A hand-painted mustard spiral sits on the front, and a couple of loose mustard brushstrokes are washed across the back near the rim, adding a relaxed, handmade feel. It fits easily in the palm of a hand, making it just right as a milk or cream jug at the tea table, for a little honey or syrup, or as a bud vase for a single stem. The glaze is clean and bright with no chips.

The spiral is one of the oldest decorative motifs in human history. It appears on pottery, carvings and textiles across many cultures. Researchers studying spiral designs note two recurring readings of the symbol: the earth, and fertility and rebirth. That gives a simple painted swirl like this one a surprisingly long story behind it.