Hello everyone and welcome back! By now you have all probably heard the whisperings of our not-so-secret Collection of Collections Auction coming in March. We have four interesting and extensive collections, and one is from the Mendon Historical Society. It is comprised of various porcelain and ceramic creamers, jugs, and pitchers from an array of English and German makers. Everything from flowers and animals to locations and devils, there is surely something to catch your eye! One of the more popular styles featured is known as the “Toby Jug,” so I thought I would write this blog to talk a bit about them!
The Toby jug became popular in the 18th century and was originally created by Staffordshire Potteries in England. These jugs, usually of full-bodied men or occasionally just heads and shoulders, were made of soft earthenware clay and were cheap enough the lower-class consumers could purchase and decorate their homes. The Toby jug was a jug of the people!
The jugs were also modeled after many important people of the times, since they were popular in the early 20th century you could find the likeness of King George V, Admiral Beatty, or even Winston Churchill. Mendon Historical Society’s array of Toby jugs come in all sizes, and even includes some notable figures like George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and comedian/singer Harry Lauder.
These jugs could have gotten their name from different sources, perhaps from a character named Toby Philpot in a song by Francis Fawkes, directly from a notorious chronic drunk by the name of Harry Elwes whose nickname was Toby Philpot, or maybe taking a nod from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night after Sir Toby Belch. Regardless of how these jugs received their name, they were ultimately a popular vessel for merriment due to their jovial appearance.
Nowadays, Toby jugs no longer catch the public’s attention, but they still smile on, waiting for the chance to be used or displayed by someone who appreciates their eternal happiness and their forever buzz; who’s to say they themselves aren’t drunk? Regardless, if you enjoy Toby jugs, creamers, pitchers, Royal Bayreuth, or German pottery, be sure to check us out March 18th!
