For house and farm
Wavy foot and grooves
Early Raeren stoneware (till the beginning of the 16th ct.) can easily be recognized by two characteristics: Firstly, by walls showing rough turning grooves and secondly by the so-called "wavy foot". This foot forms a large standing ring which is pressed with the hands onto the vessel after finishing the form. At that time, mostly drinking and pouring vessels as well as storing vessels and other kitchenware were produced. From the 16th century onwards, the walls and the foot of the vessels became smooth and the first decorations appeared in the form of decorative grooves.
Jugs, schnapps glasses and tankards
From the 16th century on, the form of the drinking and pouring vessels differed more and more. For the consumption of spirits, cylindrical schnapps glasses were produced and high cylindrical tankards for beer and wine.
Stamps and grooves
From the middle of the 16th century onwards, decorations were specifically put on Raeren stoneware. These decorations were, for instance, ornaments which were pressed with wooden stamps into the damp clay. Chip carving was also very popular. Each single notch was cut into the clay with a knife. Such jugs meant a high amount of work and therefore were rare and quite expensive.
For house and farm
Apart from drinking and pouring vessels, Raeren potters also produced a lot of devices for the household including 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.
Coat of arms and medallions
In the second half of the 16th century, Raeren stoneware was decorated with medallions. At first, coat of arms of cities, counties and families as well as house signs and private brands were put on the vessels. Later medallions showing religious or profane motives quickly became fashionable. These motives were cut into soft stone or pieces of wood creating a negative ("Matrix"). From this negative a positive ("Patrix") was made out of clay which was then fired in order to make it more robust and durable. This patrix later served as a form to make new negatives. To make a coat of arm or medallion, the clay was spread into a matrix. After letting it dry a little one could take the hardened clay form off and "glue" it to the vessel.