{"product_id":"ocean-jug","title":"Ocean jug","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHandcrafted stoneware, made in Oxfordshire\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvery jug in this collection is thrown, glazed and fired by hand in our Oxfordshire studio, where traditional pottery meets a considered, contemporary approach to design. We work in small batches rather than mass production, shaping each jug on the wheel before it is trimmed, dried, bisque fired, glazed and fired again at a high stoneware temperature. A jug has to do two jobs at once. It needs to look right standing on the table and pour cleanly when it is picked up, which means the spout, the handle and the balance all have to be judged by hand. Doing every stage in-house is how we hold that standard rather than relying on shortcuts that speed up production but flatten the character out of the finished piece.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSmall-batch glazing, so every piece is unique\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause we make and glaze in small batches, no two jugs are ever perfectly identical. Glaze is a living material. It moves, pools and settles differently depending on how thickly it is applied and exactly where the jug sits in the kiln during firing. Rather than treat those variations as a flaw to engineer out, we lean into them, so each piece is unique. Small shifts in tone, texture and pattern are part of what makes handmade ceramics feel different to use than anything mass-produced. When you choose a jug from this collection, you are choosing the one version of it that exists, made by hand in a batch of others like it but never quite the same as any of them.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBuilt to pour and to last\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eStoneware is prized by potters for good reason. Fired at a high temperature, the clay body becomes dense, hard-wearing and non-porous, giving each jug real durability for everyday use. The spout is shaped by hand so it releases cleanly and stops without dripping, and the handle is set to balance the jug whether it is full or nearly empty. The high firing also fuses the glaze properly to the clay body, creating a chip-resistant surface that holds up to regular handling far better than lower-fired earthenware. This is a piece made to be used daily, not kept back for best.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAs useful on the table as it is in the kitchen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eA small jug earns its place because it is genuinely versatile. It pours milk or cream for coffee and tea, and works just as well for sauces, dressings, gravy, syrup or a small pour of olive oil. On the table it holds its own as a piece worth looking at, and between uses it sits happily on display rather than being tucked away. The compact size makes it easy to handle and easy to store, and the considered proportions mean it feels balanced in the hand from the first pour to the last.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePractical care, everyday performance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eHandmade does not mean high-maintenance. Every jug in this collection is dishwasher safe, microwave safe and food safe, so it can be used exactly the way you would use any other piece of everyday tableware. Our glazes are tested thoroughly before they go into production, so you can reach for a jug without worrying about how it will hold up to regular washing. Over time, that combination of durability and easy care means these pieces stay in daily use rather than being saved for a special occasion.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA small handmade gift with real character\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause every jug is made individually rather than mass-produced, giving one as a gift feels different too. It carries the mark of the person who made it, from the slight variations in the glaze to the shape of the spout and the small evidence of a process that cannot be rushed. Whether it is for someone setting up a home, a lover of considered tableware, or simply someone who appreciates things made with care, a jug from this collection makes a genuinely thoughtful gift, or an equally good treat for your own table.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlease note: as these are handmade objects, they may vary in colour, shape and size from one piece to the next. These variations are not defects. They are celebrated as part of the handmade quality of every piece.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Brooker Ceramics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57653773828469,"sku":null,"price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/9402\/6735\/files\/Milk-jug-ocean-side-1.webp?v=1791997026","url":"https:\/\/countrylivingshop.co.uk\/products\/ocean-jug","provider":"Country Living Marketplace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}