Ceramic Pitchers

Ceramic jugs are one of the things that really give a kitchen or a dining table character. At Dims Studio you'll find ceramic jugs and jugs in stoneware ranging from animal motifs, lemons and oranges to classic milk jugs, creamers and oil jugs. Some are handmade in Italy, others are designed by Quail, Rice, Caja Company and Creative Collection. In this guide you'll get an overview of types, materials, use, sizes and brands, so you can find the jug that suits your home.

What is a ceramic jug?

A ceramic jug is a jug fired from clay, glazed and shaped with a handle and a spout, so it's easy to pour with. The term covers a lot: from the finer, porcelain-like ceramic to the coarser, more rustic stoneware and dolomite, which many of our jugs are also made from. What they have in common is that they can all be used to pour milk, oil, water or juice, and as a decorative object on the dining table, kitchen counter or shelf. See our whole selection of jugs for more materials and sizes.

Types of ceramic jugs

Our selection of ceramic jugs naturally divides by motif and function. Below you'll get an overview of the types you'll find with us.

Animal jugs

Animal jugs are the largest group in our selection and are dominated by the English brand Quail, which has specialised in hand-painted jugs in stoneware shaped like animals. Here you'll find, among others, a cow jug, goat jug, mouse jug, wild boar jug, duck jug, giraffe jug, puffin jug, swan jug, zebra jug, donkey jug, tiger jug, owl jug, fox jug, hare jug, lion jug and goose jug, all with Quail's characteristic hand-painted details and a playful expression. An animal jug is rarely just for everyday use. It works just as well as a small work of art on the shelf or windowsill, and it can easily stay out all year round, whether it's used or not.

Lemon and fruit jugs

The lemon motif recurs across several brands in our selection and is one of the most popular within ceramic jugs. You'll find lemon jugs from Caja Company, Kersten and Ceramiche F.L. Orgia, as well as jugs with orange, pear, fennel, sunflower, tulip, rose and berries. What the fruit jugs have in common is that they bring summer and colour into the kitchen, even in the darkest winter month. Some of the fruit jugs are shaped so the jug itself resembles the fruit or plant, while others have a painted motif on a more classic jug shape. See the whole selection under lemon jug.

Milk jugs, creamers and oil jugs

Milk jug, creamer and oil jug are three classic jug types, especially used at the table. A milk jug is typically a bit larger and used to pour milk into coffee or over breakfast, while a creamer is the smaller version, most often served with the coffee table or dessert. An oil jug is made to pour olive oil or other oil with, and therefore often has a narrower spout that gives better control when you need to drip the oil over a salad or a dish. With us you'll find, among others, cow milk jugs from Rice in both pink and brown, a lemon milk jug from Caja Company, and oil jugs with a lemon or olive motif, also from Caja Company.

Teapots

A teapot differs from the other jugs by usually having a broader body that gives room for tea leaves or a tea bag, and a lid that holds in the heat. In our selection you'll find the Missy teapot from Bloomingville in stoneware, which with its animal motif fits well with the other animal jugs in the collection.

Type	Characteristics	Best for
Animal jug	Hand-painted, shaped like or decorated with animals	Decoration, shelf, gift
Lemon and fruit jug	Colourful motif of lemon, orange, pear or flowers	Kitchen counter, dining table, summer mood
Milk jug	Roomy jug for milk or cream	Breakfast, coffee table
Creamer	Smaller jug, often in a set with a sugar bowl	Coffee and dessert table
Oil jug	Narrow spout for controlled pouring	Olive oil, dressing, cooking
Teapot	Roomy body with a lid	Tea at the table

Materials: ceramic, stoneware and dolomite

The material matters for both expression, weight and care. Here are the materials you'll meet in our jugs.

Ceramic

Ceramic is the broad umbrella term for clay that has been fired and usually glazed. The glaze makes the surface smooth and tight, so the jug can be used for liquid without leaking. Ceramic gives a more even and often slightly glossier expression than stoneware, and it's the material you'll find in most of our lemon and fruit jugs from Caja Company and Selected by dims studio.

Stoneware

Stoneware is a denser and more robust type of ceramic, fired at a higher temperature than ordinary ceramic. That gives a slightly heavier jug with a more rustic, handmade surface, which is evident in Quail's animal jugs and in several of Creative Collection's and Kersten's jugs. Stoneware generally holds up well to daily use, but is still breakable like all other ceramic.

Dolomite

Dolomite is a type of ceramic made with a mineral of the same name, which gives a light but stable jug with a fine, even surface. Kersten's striped lemon jug in dolomite is an example from our selection, where the material gives a calm, almost chalky expression that suits the striped design well.

How to care for your ceramic jug

• Wash the jug by hand with warm water and mild washing-up liquid, unless otherwise stated for the individual item. Hand washing protects the glaze and painting best.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes, for example pouring boiling water into a cold jug, as it can scratch the glaze or, in the worst case, crack it.
• Always lift the jug by the handle, and avoid stacking heavy things on top of it, as stoneware and ceramic are sensitive to knocks and pressure.
• If the jug is hand-painted, like many of Quail's animal jugs, wipe it with a damp cloth instead of using harsh cleaning products that can wear down the paint over time.

Ceramic jugs in the kitchen and at the table

Where the jug will be used matters for which type and size suits best.

On the kitchen counter

A jug used daily, for example for oil by the stove or milk for the morning coffee, is welcome to stay out. Here an oil jug with a lemon or olive motif from Caja Company is a practical and decorative choice that both pours nicely and decorates while it waits for next use.

At the dining table

For the dinner table, a milk jug or creamer is a natural choice if you serve coffee after the meal. A cow milk jug from Rice or one of the Italian jugs from Ceramiche F.L. Orgia makes a good centrepiece on the table, while also being practical to pour with.

As pure decoration

Not all jugs need to be used for pouring. Many of the animal jugs from Quail and the Italian fruit jugs work just as well as sculptural objects on a shelf, in a windowsill or gathered together on a side table. See more ideas for storage and decoration under jugs.

Sizes: small and large jug

In our selection of ceramic jugs there's a clear divide between the smaller and the larger models. The smaller jugs, like many of Quail's animal jugs and some of the fruit jugs, suit well as a creamer or as a purely decorative object where space is limited. The larger jugs, including several of the Italian jugs and some of the lemon jugs, have more volume and suit better as a milk jug or water jug for the table. If it's a very small jug you're after, you can also check out our selection of small jugs.

The brands behind our ceramic jugs

Our selection of ceramic jugs brings together several brands, each with their own expression.

Quail

Quail is an English design brand, known for hand-painted stoneware products shaped like animals. In our jug selection, Quail is behind by far the most animal jugs, from cow and mouse to tiger, lion and zebra, all with a playful and characterful expression.

Caja Company

Caja Company is behind several of our lemon and oil jugs in ceramic, including both a milk jug, an oil jug and an ordinary jug with a lemon motif. What Caja Company's jugs have in common is a colourful and summery expression.

Selected by dims studio and Ceramiche F.L. Orgia

Under Selected by dims studio you'll find, among others, the Italian jugs from the Italian ceramic workshop Ceramiche F.L. Orgia, including the moon, sun, lemon, pear and fennel jug. The jugs are characterised by a handmade, slightly uneven expression, typical of Italian ceramic craftsmanship. See more of the workshop's items under Italian ceramics.

Creative Collection

Creative Collection, part of the Bloomingville house, contributes with jugs in stoneware like the Limone series in yellow, where the lemon motif recurs on several different jug shapes, including both an ordinary jug and a creamer, as well as the Berrie jug with a fruit motif.

Rice

Rice is known for colourful kitchenware, and in the jug selection you'll find, among others, cow milk jugs in pink and brown, a swan jug, a sunflower jug and a small berry jug in lavender. What the Rice jugs have in common are the bright colours and playful motifs.

Kersten, Klevering, Anna + Nina and Bloomingville

In addition, you'll find individual jugs from Kersten, who is behind the striped lemon jug in dolomite and an aubergine jug, from &Klevering with an orange jug and a blue festivo jug, from Anna + Nina with the Whimsical Rose jug, and from Bloomingville with the Missy teapot in stoneware.

Brand	Characteristics	Best for
Quail	Hand-painted animal jugs in stoneware	Decoration and gift
Caja Company	Lemon and oil jugs in ceramic	Kitchen and table
Selected by dims studio / Ceramiche F.L. Orgia	Italian handmade jugs	A unique, handmade expression
Creative Collection	Lemon motif in stoneware	Jug and creamer as a set
Rice	Colourful animal and fruit motifs	Milk jug and decoration
Kersten, Klevering, Anna + Nina, Bloomingville	Individual designs in dolomite, ceramic and stoneware	You, who wants to add to the selection

How to choose the right jug: decision guide

If you're still unsure which jug suits best, you can take these recommendations from our selection as a starting point.

Situation	Our recommendation
You want a jug that's fun to look at	An animal jug from Quail, for example giraffe, zebra or owl
You need a jug for milk in the morning	A cow milk jug from Rice or an Italian jug from Ceramiche F.L. Orgia
You need a jug for olive oil	An oil jug with a lemon or olive motif from Caja Company
You want a jug for cream or sugar at the coffee table	A creamer from Creative Collection's Limone series
You want a calm, single-colour expression	The striped lemon jug in dolomite from Kersten
The jug just needs to decorate the shelf	One of the smaller animal jugs from Quail or a fruit jug from Rice
You need to give a gift with personality	An animal jug from Quail or an Italian handmade jug

Frequently asked questions about ceramic jugs

What's the difference between ceramic and stoneware?

Ceramic is the broad term for fired and glazed clay, while stoneware is a denser type of ceramic, fired at a higher temperature. Stoneware is usually a bit heavier and more robust, while ordinary ceramic often has a smoother, more even surface.

Can a ceramic jug go in the dishwasher?

Always follow the guidance for the individual item. As a starting point, we recommend hand washing with warm water and mild washing-up liquid, especially for hand-painted jugs like Quail's animal jugs, where the dishwasher can wear down the paint over time.

What's the difference between a milk jug and a creamer?

A milk jug is typically a bit larger and used for milk at breakfast or coffee, while a creamer is smaller and most often used for cream or coffee milk at the coffee or dessert table.

What is an oil jug used for?

An oil jug is made to store and pour olive oil or other cooking oil with. The narrow spout gives better control when you drip oil over a salad or a hot dish, compared to pouring directly from the bottle.

Why are there so many animal jugs from Quail?

Quail has specialised in hand-painted stoneware products with animal motifs, and animal jugs are a fixed part of their collection. That makes Quail the brand in our selection with the widest range of jugs shaped like or decorated with animals.

Can a ceramic jug withstand boiling water?

Most of our ceramic jugs are intended for cold or lukewarm liquid such as milk, cream, oil or juice. Avoid pouring boiling water directly into a cold jug, as a sudden temperature change can cause scratches or cracks in the glaze.

What is an Italian jug from Ceramiche F.L. Orgia?

It's a handmade jug from the Italian ceramic workshop Ceramiche F.L. Orgia, which we've selected under Selected by dims studio. The jugs are characterised by a slightly uneven, handmade expression and motifs like moon, sun, lemon, pear and fennel.

Are animal jugs from Quail only for decoration?

No, they can easily be used for pouring, but many choose to let them stay out as decoration on a shelf or side table, because the hand-painted design makes them small works of art in their own right.

Which jug suits a small apartment?

Choose one of the smaller jugs in the selection, for example one of Quail's smaller animal jugs or a creamer that takes up less room on the shelf or kitchen counter. See also our selection of small jugs.

How do I store my ceramic jug when it's not in use?

Place the jug somewhere dry, ideally out on the shelf or in the cupboard, where it won't risk being knocked over or bumped. Avoid stacking other things on top of it, as ceramic and stoneware are sensitive to pressure.

Can I use a jug from Quail to serve milk to guests?

Yes. Quail's jugs are made of stoneware and can easily be used for pouring, even though many choose them mainly for the decorative expression. They work well as a fun detail at the table when there are guests.

Is there a difference between ceramic jugs for everyday use and for parties?

There's no fixed rule, but a simple, single-colour jug, like the striped lemon jug from Kersten, often suits everyday use well, while a colourful animal jug from Quail or an Italian jug can give the table an extra lift on special occasions.