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Bellarmine

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From Eyemouth, Berwickshire

Bellarmine
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A bellarmine is a type of jug or tankard for ale or spirits bearing a bearded mask. This stoneware example was dug at Eyemouth in the Borders. It was made in Raeren in Germany in the 16th century. No stoneware was produced in Scotland at this time.

The mottled brown stoneware bellarmine has a coat-of-arms in addition to the bearded face. Stoneware, a highly-fired durable ceramic, was well-suited to holding valuable liquor.

The bellarmine is named after Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), an Italian Jesuit theologian and cardinal whom the jugs were intended to caricature. Bellarmine, an important influence in the Counter-Reformation, was canonised.

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