Wavy foot and grooves

The early Raeren stoneware till the beginning of the 16th century can be easily recognised by two characteristics. The walls have rough turning grooves. The foot is a so-called "wavy foot". It forms a large standing ring which is pressed with the hands to the vessel after having turned it. Mostly drinking and pouring vessels as well as storing vessels and other kitchenware were produced in that time. From the 16th century on, the walls and feet became smooth. First decorations appeared in the form of decorative grooves.

Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564-1638): Outside wedding table, around 1630

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Jugs, schnapps glasses and tankards

From the 16th century on, the form of the drinking and pouring vessels differed more and more. Mostly cylindrical schnapps glasses for the consumption of spirits and high cylindrical tankards for beer and wine were used as drinking vessels.

David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690): Gamblers in front of an inn

Louis de Caulery (1575-1621): Allegory of Summer

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Stamps and notches

From the middle of the 16th century on, decorations were put purposefully on Raeren stoneware. Those were ornaments which were pressed into the damp clay with the help of wooden stamps. The cutting of notches was also very popular. Each notch was cut individually with a knife. Due to the great deal of work, these jugs were rare and expensive.

Jan Steen (1626-1679): As the Old sang

Gerrit Heda (1642-1702): Still life with jug, fish and butter

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For house and farm

Apart from drinking and pouring vessels, the Raeren potters also produced a lot of devices for the household. Those include storing vessels, scooping cups, oil lamps and little oil cans, bowls and dishes, cheese sieves, scooping vessels, cream pots and milk bowls in which the milk could thicken, and even chamber pots.


David Teniers d.J. (1610-1690): Man and woman playing cards


David Teniers d.J. (1610-1690): Doctor's practice with village surgeon and tooth-breaker

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Coat of arms and medallions

In the second half of the 16th century, the Raeren stoneware was decorated with medallions. At first, those were coat of arms of cities, counties and families as well as house badges and trader badges. Also medallions with religious or profane motives quickly became fashionable. The motives were cut as negatives into soft stone or pieces of wood. From this matrix a resistant positive out of fired clay was made. From this one could copy as many working matrixes as wanted. The clay was spread into the matrix. After letting it dry a little one could take it off and "glue" it to the vessel.

House badge of the kitchenware trader Quellem Pardicque from Liege

Medallion with woman's bust

House badge of the Raeren potter master Merten Mennicken

Medallion with a man