Toby
Jugs & Character Mugs
A 2008 Display Case
Exhibit - About the Display Case Committee
Toby Jugs were first made popular in England around 1762. A Staffordshire potter named Ralph Wood seems to be responsible for the idea. The Early jugs depicted a jolly, stout, seated man, holding a stein and wearing an English tricorn, a corner of which served as a spout.
The whole was fashioned in clay. The Toby Jug was also called a Fillpot and both names were probably derived from Toby Philpot, the drunken character in the 18th Century song "Little Brown Jug," that was popular in England and America. |
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 ,, |
Toby
Jugs and mugs are full bodied figures, some of which have music
boxes attached at the bottom. These play tunes related to the
them of the character they represent. Eventually more places
than Staffordshire, both in England and other Countries began
to develop
the Toby Jug idea. |
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Some
manufacturers issued series of jugs, for example there was a
series of all Dickens Characters and one of "Poor man, Beggar
man characters. They Also depicted famous people. Apparently
from this idea came Character Jugs which only
show a person's head and shoulders. Along with Toby Jugs, these
have become highly collectible. |
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 Stan Laurel |
This
display includes several character jugs, a few of which we have
labeled
for your amusement and curiousity -- enjoy. |
 Oliver Hardy |
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 Uncle Sam |
 Mark
Twain & Tom Sawyer |
 W.C. Fields |
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 Ike |
 Monty |
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 JimmyCarter |
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Display by Todd Butler and the committee, photos by Mike Carrell