Medford Leas Residents Association

Toby Jugs and Character Mugs
A 2008 Display Case Exhibit - About the Display Case Committee

photos by Mike Carrell 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.
,,				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.
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.		..........

Stan Laurel		This display includes several character jugs, a few of which we have labeled for your amusement and curiousity -- enjoy.		Oliver Hardy
Uncle Sam		Mark Twain & Tom Sawyer		W.C. Fields
	Ike		Monty
JimmyCarter			Marilyn Monroe