CIRCA 1520-1530

SUCH VESSELS APPEAR TO BE THE FIRST RHENISH STONEWARE JUGS WITH MASKS. THEY DERIVE FROM ROMAN MODELS. LIKE THE ANCIENT MODELS THESE EARLY EXAMPLES HAVE THE EYES AND HAIR SCRATCHED IN THE CLAY, WHEREAS THE NOSE AND MOUTH ARE SHAPED AND APPLIED. THESE JUGS FORM AACHEN/RAEREN SUPPLIED THE MODEL FOR THE COLOGNE/FRECHEN BELLARMINES. THE BEGINNINGS OF RAEREN STONEWARE LIE IN AACHEN. MOST OF THE JUGS WITH FACE MASKS WERE PROBABLY MADE HERE, AS A FAIRLY LARGE NUMBER WAS FOUND IN THE FRANZSTRASSE IN AACHEN DURING EXCAVATIONS OF A KILN.
DURING HIS VISIT TO THE NETHERLANDS IN 1520-1521, ALBRECHT DRER DREW SKETCHES OF THESE RAEREN JUGS. HE MUST HAVE REGARDED THEM AS SOMETHING SPECIAL. HENCE ONE MAY ASSUME THAT AT THE TIME SUCH JUGS WERE RELATIVELY NEW.

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