High medieval ceramics
High-medieval pottery is more than just tableware: it is a tangible piece of the 10th to 13th centuries – and for re-enactment camps, medieval markets or authentic table decorations, it is virtually irreplaceable by any other material. When you pick up a Pingsdorf cup, you are holding a vessel that, in this form or a very similar one, could have been found at any medieval market between Cologne and Copenhagen.
What is High Medieval pottery – and why is it so distinctive?
The High Middle Ages are broadly defined as the period from around 950 to 1250 AD – a phase in which towns emerged, long-distance trade routes became more established and craftsmanship became increasingly specialised. This is directly reflected in the pottery: a shift away from the coarse coil-building technique of the Early Middle Ages towards the first potter’s wheels and refined surfaces. Typical High Medieval earthenware features a reddish-beige body, often complemented by floral or geometric decoration in iron oxide red – the characteristic roller-stamp decoration that has made Pingsdorf ware particularly famous.
Compared to early medieval pottery, high medieval ware appears significantly more uniformly shaped and has thinner walls. In contrast to late medieval pottery, which is increasingly characterised by durable stoneware, the High Middle Ages are even more strongly defined by porous earthenware and the emerging semi-stoneware. Another hallmark of the High Middle Ages is the emergence of established pottery centres – foremost among them Pingsdorf on the Rhine, whose products were traded throughout the whole of Northern and Central Europe.
Pingsdorf ware: The index fossil of the High Middle Ages
Pingsdorf near Brühl in the Rhineland is regarded as one of the most significant pottery centres in Central Europe between the 9th and 13th centuries. The pottery produced there is a genuine ‘index fossil’ for archaeologists – it appears in archaeological layers ranging from North Sea coastal settlements to Danish trading towns, providing information on both trade routes and dating.
What makes Pingsdorf ware so distinctive is the cream-coloured to reddish fired clay, combined with the characteristic roller-stamped decoration in iron oxide red. The shapes follow clear, functional lines – mugs of around 0.35 to 0.4 litres, jugs and pitchers with a capacity of approximately 1.3 to 1.4 litres, grapen as three-legged cooking pots, and aquamanile as water jugs for the table. The range includes handmade replicas in built-up ceramic and stoneware, in several variations and sizes – from compact drinking mugs to fully painted Pingsdorf jugs.
Care and use in storage: What you need to know
Unglazed earthenware is porous and absorbs a little moisture on first contact with liquids. It is recommended that new pieces be soaked in water for a few hours before first use – this closes the pores slightly and prevents drinks from penetrating the body too deeply. This step is not necessary for glazed pieces.
Handmade ceramics should not be placed in the microwave or dishwasher. Gently wash by hand with lukewarm water and mild washing-up liquid – this is perfectly sufficient for most uses, whether at market or in the camp. Coarse scouring agents and vigorous scrubbing can damage the decoration.
Not every ceramic piece is equally suitable for hot drinks or direct food contact. Always check the relevant product description – this specifies the intended use of the piece. For decorative items such as aquamaniles or grapens, the visual appearance is the main focus.
Ceramics are robust, but not unbreakable. When transporting them, it is advisable to wrap them in fabric or pad the pieces separately – particularly in the case of jugs and aquamaniles with their spouts and handles. Many re-enactors use simple woollen blankets or old linen cloths for this purpose, which are part of the camp anyway.
Aquamaniles and grapens are ideal as tent accessories and photo props – even if they are not actively filled. Placed on a laid camp table or displayed on a shelf in the tent, they immediately create a visual impact that lends authenticity to the High Medieval re-enactment. These pieces are particularly popular for market photography and event photos due to their distinctive silhouette.
Aquamanile: The animal-shaped clay vessel
The term ‘aquamanile’ is derived from the Latin aqua manus – ‘hand water’ – and refers to a jug or water pitcher in the shape of an animal or a human. In the 12th to 14th centuries, the aquamanile was common in both aristocratic and bourgeois households: at mealtimes, it was passed around for the ritual washing of hands before eating. Originals made of clay and bronze have been preserved in several European museums – the clay version clearly follows the tradition of the Rhineland’s pottery centres.
In our range you will find three handcrafted versions: the Pingsdorf Aquamanile (10th–12th century), modelled on Rhineland originals; the Aquamanile with a matt brown engobe (13th century), with a capacity of 0.5 litres; and the High Medieval Aquamanile (12th century), also a 0.5-litre piece. All three are handmade and painted – not mass-produced items, but unique pieces bearing the visible hallmarks of genuine craftsmanship. As a centrepiece for a sophisticated High Medieval display or as an eye-catcher at a medieval market stall, they are hard to beat.
Price ranges and uses: Which one suits you?
Simple drinking cups such as the Pingsdorf Cup 0.35 L or the High Medieval Clay Cup 0.5 L – ideal for anyone looking to kit out their first market stall or expand their range. Handmade, authentic in form, straightforward to use. Note: Check the product description for food contact suitability beforehand.
Pingsdorf jugs and pitchers in various sizes (1.3–1.4 L) as well as the 13th–14th-century pilgrim’s flask – well-suited for military encampments, medieval markets and re-enactment events. Sturdy everyday items with historically documented shapes. For LARP use, consider transport safety and look for robust variants.
Aquamaniles and decorative grapevats – elaborately handcrafted and painted, suitable as centrepieces or for reenactments where detail matters. The 12th–13th-century Pingsdorf grapevat can also be used as a rustic cooking vessel over an open fire. These pieces are investments in the authenticity of a High Medieval reenactment.
Manufacture and authenticity: Handcrafted according to historical models
The historical pottery techniques of the High Middle Ages were based on two methods: the coil-building technique (also known as the coil method), in which clay coils are layered on top of one another and smoothed, and the increasing use of early potter’s wheels. Both methods are represented in the replicas of this range. Earthenware is fired at approx. 900–1050 °C – significantly lower than later stoneware, which only achieves its characteristic density and watertightness from around 1200 °C.
Before firing, many pieces are coated with an engobe – a liquid clay slip – to refine and colour the surface. The characteristic matt brown or reddish appearance of Pingsdorf ware is created by this process in combination with the iron oxide decoration. All replicas in the range are handmade from 100% clay and partly hand-painted – no industrial mass-produced printed decoration. Visible irregularities, slight variations in shape and colour differences between individual pieces are not a quality defect, but rather the intended characteristic of genuine craftsmanship and a direct indication of the historical manufacturing method.
An overview of ceramic types: What constitutes High Medieval pottery?
Earthenware & fine ware
Earthenware is the most common type of pottery from the High Middle Ages – low-fired (approx. 900–1050 °C), porous, with a characteristic reddish-beige colour. Fine ware refers to thinner-walled variants with a refined surface, often from pottery centres such as Pingsdorf. Engobed ware is coated with a clay slip – this gives it its typical matt brown or cream-coloured appearance.
Semi-stoneware & stoneware
Semi-stoneware is a transitional type between earthenware and full stoneware – fired at a higher temperature, already denser, but not yet fully sintered. True stoneware is only produced from around 1200 °C and is impermeable to water; it emerged in the late High Middle Ages and then characterised the Late Middle Ages. Some Pingsdorf replicas in the range are produced as stoneware.
Aquamanile · Grape · Pilgrim’s flask
The aquamanile, a water jug in the shape of an animal (lion, horse), is one of the most iconic ceramic forms of the 12th–14th centuries. The grape – a three-legged cooking pot – was an everyday item in kitchens and camps. The pilgrim’s flask (also known as a barrel flask) accompanied travellers and pilgrims on long journeys and is now a popular accessory for canteens and depictions of pilgrim’s flasks.
Whether you’re looking for your first Pingsdorf cup for the medieval market or a period-appropriate aquamanile as a centrepiece for a sophisticated 12th-century re-enactment – in this category you’ll find handcrafted replicas that are historically accurate and tried and tested in everyday camp life. Browse through the range or give us a call – we’ll help you find the right pieces for your re-enactment.
Frequently Asked Questions
High Medieval pottery (c. 950–1250 AD) is characterised by a reddish-beige body, geometric or floral roll-stamp decoration in iron oxide red, and more uniform shapes – a sign of the emerging potter’s wheel. Particularly characteristic is Pingsdorf ware from the Rhineland, which is regarded as the archaeological index fossil of the High Middle Ages.
In the medieval context, the main distinctions are: earthenware (low-fired, porous), fine ware (thin-walled, refined surface), engobed ware (coated with a clay slip), semi-stoneware (transitional type, already denser) and stoneware (fired at approx. 1200 °C, impermeable to water). Earthenware and fine ware dominated in the High Middle Ages; stoneware only became fully established in the Late Middle Ages.
That depends on the specific item. Some cups and jugs in the range are designed for use with liquids, whilst others – particularly decorative pieces such as aquamaniles – are primarily intended for display and decoration. The relevant product description specifies the intended use of the item. If in doubt, we recommend checking with us before using the item with food.
An aquamanile (Latin: aqua manus = hand water) is a pouring jug or water jug in the shape of an animal or a human, which was used in the 12th to 14th centuries for the ritual washing of hands before a meal. Original examples made of clay and bronze are preserved in several European museums. In re-enactments and at medieval markets, the aquamanile is suitable both as functional tableware and as a decorative piece.
Handmade earthenware should not be heated in the microwave or washed in the dishwasher. Lukewarm water and mild washing-up liquid are perfectly sufficient for cleaning. It is recommended that new, unglazed pieces be soaked in water for a few hours before first use. When transporting, it is advisable to wrap them in cloth or linen to protect the spouts and handles.