Introduction: the toby jug collector

Welcome to the toby site that Ray & Diane have launched to help give collectors a little history of collecting and buying toby jugs from the first period of manufacture, late 18th century (c1780+).

We have gained our specialist knowledge regarding toby jugs over thirty-five years. We first collected Victorian toby jugs, these were self explanatory because they could be compared with contemporary and later models still being made, this was the 1970's, a golden age with good seasoned dealers, fine pieces and not many reproductions. Why would you need them when you could purchase the real thing reasonably? Once discovering the earlier period pieces c1780-1840 the task became more difficult as very few are marked and a general knowledge of pottery was required.

Toby jugs are a wonderful subject to collect although not all will agree:
Only keen enthusiasts fully appreciate toby jug collections and there are many such collectors, to the masses they are just similar ugly featured old men, huddled together, usually on a shelf collecting dust…yes similarities do occur but specialists recognize the differences quite easily. Variations occur in "Traditional" models faces, their dress colouring, the jug he's holding and also the heights of their bases. How wonderful if Toby was also marked with the potter's name, many are not and so the jigsaw puzzle begins:
(Take time to study other pottery of the same period, some of these pieces may be marked and this can help identify some of the characteristics factories used).

Start your collection with something you like rather than for investment. Sound advice is to buy the most uncommon or rare model in the best possible condition, with no restoration and with rich colour, that will be a challenge to novice collectors as what we have described is expensive but become good advice in the long term. Aim to purchase a small collection of quality rather than a larger one of less desirable models. Market values do change and things fluctuate but if nice clean good quality is purchased these will be the tobies other collectors will want to own making their resale easier.

If you see a jug do you know if it's enamel, Pratt ware, has it been restored badly or has it had a bad firing in the kiln, to the uninitiated this can be a mine field?

There is always a choice to collect, choose good colour in preference to plain white, preferably a rich running glaze but don't ignore enamels with their softer range of colours. Decorative sponging, stripes & flowers can be the collectors personal choice but always seek to obtain a good pearlware /creamware body. Some jugs have wrinkled brows, warts or unusual shaped noses, this may determine rarities, see a "Roman Nose" or a "Sharp Face", these are rare models but to the non-collecting eye would be classed as just "Traditional"…but they are not. Most jugs are seated men, taken from all walks of life, sailors, politicians, country gents of notoriety drinking beer from a cup with the occasional one smoking a pipe, some still have their crown (detachable hat) but most have been lost over time. Female jugs and standing country gents can all add charm on the shelf where they sit rubbing shoulders.

The A-Z list of early tobies is there to help with the many masculine models, of the female tobies the Martha Gunn is the most famous, her Prince of Wales feathered mop cap makes her regal and distinctive. She worked as a bathing attendant "a dipper" on the beach at Brighton, it was said a young George IV frequented her bathing hut. George was also distinguished as a toby masquerading at a ball as Henry VIII. This jug is known as King or Prince Hal, a marvelous large 15-inch toby that's well detailed with his arm usually forming the handle making him a jug. As an early collector this was never a favourite as we thought it more a figure, now our opinions have changed, we consider him a great rarity.

From maritime history there's Admiral Lord Rodney, Midshipmen and Sailor's seated on chests (Rodney's Sailor or Planter models), Admiral Vernon (who was said to own a dog) and Lord Howe who both sat on barrels with rope twists forming their handles. Nelson's Trafalgar 1805 battle with his flagship HMS Victory has been paid tribute to and also the "Dollars" toby which I will feature in a separate tale told to me years ago by a maritime navel gentleman who was also a toby collector.

Standing tobies are usually "Hearty Good Fellows" or "Gin Women" wearing A-line skirts, these are the most seen derivative models to acquire for a collection, although a couple of unrecorded standing tobies have turned up recently so there is always something that could make your heart beat a little faster.

Very rare toby jug models such as a "Welshman" or "Welsh Country Gent "are seldom seen, the rarer models generally are more difficult to obtain but variations do give an interest to a collection...See "The Sinner" & "Dr Johnson" for different seated jugs to the "Traditional" or "Ordinary" model.

A little later along the production line are the Victorian or "Blues" 1840+ tobies and characters, these haven't been left out; their collecting information is also found through these pages. Whichever models you decide to collect they are all interesting, have great history, can possibly be traced to a good provenance but also compulsive... Are you about to "catch the toby bug" as we did many years ago? Our passion is deep and to "tell all" could take us quite some time...hope you'll join us as we show you treasured toby models and take a look at toby collecting.

Thanks for the visit, a little more about ourselves can be found at the introduction page of our specialist site www.rarepottery.com the two sites combine to give a varied insight into this golden time of "Antique British & Staffordshire Pottery Folk Art" with photographic articles and stock for sale from Ray & Diane Ginns.

 

Copyright © 2011: All rights reserved Ray and Diane Ginns www.antiquetobyjugs.com