This stunning hand painted maiolica Deruta ceramic jug comes in the traditional Rooster design.

This rooster jug measures 165mm high and approximately 125mm wide and has a volumetric capacity of approximately 400ml.

It features the traditional 'Ricco Deruta' design and on the base of the jug is the hand painted inscription 'Deruta MOD'' from the manufacturer in Derutal 'Maijolica o Deruta'.  The second line says 'Dip a mano', which is Italian for 'painted by hand'.

Scroll through the images above to see the detail of this lovely jug for yourself.

The "Rooster Pitcher" or "Rooster Jug" dates back to the early Renaissance period.  At this time, the Medici family, one of the most powerful landowning families of the time, held a feast in the village of Gallina for their peasants.  After the feast, when everyone was asleep, a rival family sent assassins to the village to kill the Medici.  However, the roosters in the yards around the village started cackling when disturbed by the assassins, waking both the Medici family and their guards.  The assassins were caught and duly executed.  The Medici family, were so grateful to the roosters for saving their lives that they commissioned local artists to create ceramic replicas of them to be used as wine pitchers.  These were then distributed to the peasants and their friends to commemorate this event and to provide for them similar good luck in times of peril and danger.

Today, these jugs are given by Italian families to their friends and loved ones for wedding and engagement gifts with the hope that they bring similar good fortune with them.

These jugs are also still used as wine pitchers and pour beautifully, but they can also be used of course as a jug for any purpose.