Dutch Milk Pot

(10"x9"x7")

This late 19th-century brass pot was produced in England. The inside is coated with a layer of pewter to ensure that no brass encounters the liquids. The stamped inscription on the bottom of the jug reads: Made in England / J. S & S / Solid Brass / 4. The initials likely stand for Joseph Sankey & Sons. The number 4 indicates the number of pints that the jug can hold. Based in Staffordshire, England, J. S & S produced different styles of brass and copper jugs between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company also produced various metal home goods, including candlesticks, tea caddies, water cans, kettles, and trays. At its time of production, J. S & S catalogues marketed this jug as a 'hot water jug'. It was available in a range of styles and finishes, including with a hammered surface, an art nouveau-style engraving, and a texture that mimics lizard skin. Each design was available in a choice of copper or brass. This beautiful jug is distinguished by its timeless design and classic brass finish.

At this time in England, fictional detective Sherlock Holmes first appeared in Arthur Conan Doyle’s (1859–1930) A Study in Scarlet, published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual of 1887. Doyle would ultimately write 56 short stories and 4 novels starring the beloved sleuth. The world’s first “consulting detective,” Holmes is the most portrayed human character in film and television history, with over 25,000 featured adaptations by the 1990s.