William IV and Adelaide may be the most frequently overlooked British monarchs of the nineteenth century, outflanked by the scandals of George IV and the long illustrious reign of Victoria. They ruled over a period of important government reform in Britain, however, and their finely rendered portraits grace this well-executed bulbous scroll-handled jug.

Each portrait is topped by a scroll identifying their "most gracious" majesties, accented by by roses, thistles and shamrocks representing the constituents of their realm. The same symbolic flowers surround the image of a crown beneath the nose of the jug.

The print quality throughout the jug is excellent.

Too often transferware is thought of as a Victorian product. This jug demonstrates the fallacy of that notion. Here in the reign preceding Victoria's we see that the transferware tradition is well into its "romantic" period with a full blown and particularly robust rococo revival shape.