CIRCA 1750-1760, LIKELY WILLIAM LITTLER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AARON WEDGWOOD

The deep cobalt-blue ground on this class of wares is traditionally referred to as 'Littler's' blue. This term is based on records of an early partnership between William Littler and his brother-in-law, Aaron Wedgwood. Contemporary references by Jonah Malkin and by Thomas and John Wedgwood of the Big House Burslem to 'blue wares' and 'gilded blue' date to as early as 1749 and as late as 1763. The later references do not mention Littler, which is not surprising as he was then employed at the Longton Hall porcelain manufactory.

For an illustration of a white salt-glazed mug of this form excavated from a deposit of 1770 at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, see Diana Edwards and Rodney Hampson, White Salt-Glazed Stoneware of the British Isles, p. 169, fig. 132. The authors also record 'Littler's blue' wares being found at two excavated sites in Delaware and a third in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

See Chas. F. C. Luxmoore, "Saltglaze", with The Notes of a Collector, London, 1924, the dust-cover and pl. 38 for a similar hot-milk jug and other 'Wm. Littler' wares; See Arnold R. Mountford, The Illustrated Guide to Staffordshire Saltglaze Stoneware, London, 1971, pp. 51-52 for a detailed discussion on these wares; and see The Harriet Goldweitz Collection; Sotheby's, New York, 20 January 2006, lot 123, for a similar mug.