A beautiful example of the original style of 18th century earthenware from Rouen, this hot water jug with a lid bears a high-quality polychrome design. Polychromy, initially restricted to five colours, appeared in Rouen at the end of the 17th century. The designs covering this jug are described as being 'à ferroneries' (in the style of metalwork), in a reference to the motifs on balconies and wrought-iron rails.

They are framed by a series of bands based on Rouen's famous 'lambrequin' style which took inspiration from the publications of ornaments. Set at either side of a large motif beneath a small round canopy, the opposing curves, adorned with fine drapery and florets, stand out on a blueish enamel. Unlike the other shades used here, the red pigment, made from ferruginous clay and particularly difficult to fix using the 'high-fire' technique, is not painted in flat colour but rather applied in tightly-packed dots or fine parallel ridges, which are close enough from each other to give an optically flat colour.