A silver claret jug is a wine

jug A jug is a type of container commonly used to hold and serve liquids, but not normally to drink from directly. It has an opening, sometimes narrow, from which to pour or drink, and has a handle, and usually a pouring lip. Jugs throughout histor ...

made of glass, typically with some silver, for

claret Bordeaux wine (; ) is produced in the Bordeaux region of southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux, on the Garonne River. To the north of the city, the Dordogne River joins the Garonne forming the broad estuary called the Gironde; the Gir ...

, which is the British name for French red

Bordeaux wine Bordeaux wine (; ) is produced in the Bordeaux region of southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux, on the Garonne River. To the north of the city, the Dordogne River joins the Garonne forming the broad estuary called the Gironde; the Gi ...

, and other wines, especially reds. Matured red wines, including claret, throw a deposit of sediment, and various methods and machines were designed to decant the wine into another container, leaving the sediment behind. Strong red wines also taste better after a certain period exposed to the air, which the decanting process and the jug shape achieved. From the introduction of claret to Britain in 1663 specific vessels soon began to be designed to contain the wine and let it "breathe" before consumption. Early examples of claret jugs are usually in green glass (as were the wine bottles themselves) with a

pewter Pewter () is a malleable metal alloy consisting of tin (85–99%), antimony (approximately 5–10%), copper (2%), bismuth, and sometimes silver. In the past, it was an alloy of tin and lead, but most modern pewter, in order to prevent lead poi ...

lid, usually raised by a simple finger pad. From around 1740 to 1820 the fashion was to serve claret in either a fully glass or a solid silver jug, with the contents being fully hidden.Miller's Antique Encyclopedia From about 1830 to 1920 the jugs became made of clear

lead crystal Lead glass, commonly called crystal, is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40% (by mass) lead(II) oxide (PbO), while modern lead crystal, historically ...

glass capped with a lifting silver cover and usually also a silver handle. These are now very collectable. Most took advantage of the ease with which lead crystal can be cut. Less ornate versions were simply frosted. The silver mounted tops incorporated hinged lids, and handles that extended down halfway or to the base. The mounts were often engraved or chased, and the glass bodies were found in many different shapes and varying ornamentation. Some earlier examples were made entirely of silver. The level of craftsmanship and their aesthetic qualities determine their value. Unusual jugs, such as made by Charles Edwards or

Christopher Dresser Christopher Dresser (4 July 1834 – 24 November 1904) was a British designer and design theorist, now widely known as one of the first and most important independent designers. He was a pivotal figure in the Aesthetic Movement and a major contr ...

, or examples with fine engraved scenes may command high prices. The popularity of wine fell after the First World War and did not recover until the 1970s. The re-emergence of wine had a product that was less reliant upon decanting (part of the purpose of the jug) and the fashion was then generally to serve wine straight from the bottle. The purpose of the claret jug is therefore largely gone.

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