Even the most mundane and ordinary examples of pottery look attractive when viewed in isolation. This is particularly the case with pots and jugs that have been made from stoneware and used to store liquids such as whiskey and other alcohol. This is because even these types of jugs have been designed by craftsmen and made to stand up to many years of use. Some of the more common moonshine jugs were made with the aim of storing liquid for long periods of time but, today, they are being collected as decorative items.
There is something about pottery that many people find fascinating. So much so that they are popularly collected and put on display around the home. Old jugs and crocks provide a link to the past and give an insight into the production of storage containers that were built to last. The lines that they define, their colors and the glazes that were used to create them all add to the charm that they provide. Placing them in a room that conforms to a more traditional style helps to set an old time atmosphere very effectively.
It’s the subtleties of these jugs that most people find fascinating. The markings that were originally placed there by the manufacturer to identify the distilling company and the date of manufacture provide a lot of the fascination. These markings are also very helpful in distinguishing one type of jug from another.
These days the ubiquitous stoneware whiskey jug that has a cream lower half and a dark brown upper half is used to indicate that the contents are alcoholic. It is an easily identifiable symbol that has been replicated in other items such as salt and pepper shakers and small decorative pottery pieces.
Apart from the fact that they are a link to the past, collecting these moonshine jugs can also be a handy way to equip yourself with usable fluid containers. They are made from stoneware, one of the best materials for containing water for extended periods of time. If you are going to buy containers to store water, you may as well get crocks that provide decorative value too.