Toby jug
A toby jug is a form of ceramic jug in the form of a seated person, usually a heavily-set, jovial man holding a mug of beer in one hand and a pipe of tobacco in the other, wearing 18th century costume: a long coat and a tricorn hat. The tricorn hat forms a pouring spout, usually with a removable lid, and a handle is attached at the rear.
The origin of the name "toby jug" is uncertain, and has been ascribed variously to:
- a song from 1761 about Toby Philpot, entitled "Dear Tom, This Brown Jug";
- a reference to Sir Toby Belch, a character from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night;
- the French word tope, meaning 'to drink a lot'.
The original toby jug, with a brown salt glaze, was developed and popularised by Staffordshire potters in the 1760s; Ralph Wood is a prime candidate. It is thought to be a development of similar Delft jugs that were produced in the Netherlands. Similar designs were produced by other potteries, first in Staffordshire, then around England, and eventually in other countries. Toby jugs are collectible.
A reflection nebula, IC 2220, surrounding a red giant star, is known as the Toby Jug Nebula due to its peculiar "bi-polar, bi-conical" shape, which resembles to a toby jug.
External links
Categories: Beer and brewery stubs