(My column for the May 24 issue of the Zion-Benton News)
The
smiling visage of Sir Francis Drake, captured in clay and colorfully-glazed,
was a fixture in our house when I was growing up. My mother explained that the ceramic figurine
was a Toby jug. I learned early that
Drake was a famous English sea captain.
It was years later that I became aware of popularity of Toby jugs.
This
spring I bought a Toby at a local estate sale.
I looked online to find out more about it. I discovered that Evanston is home to the
American Toby Jug Museum. My husband and
I paid a visit earlier this month.
 |
| Toby Philpot in many sizes |
Stephen
Mullins, a Chicago real estate developer, opened the museum in 2006 to house
his 8,200-item collection. His
fascination with the art form began in the late 1940’s when he spend the last
of his summer-camp candy money to buy six jugs. He has written two books on the
subject.
British
potters began producing Toby jugs in the 1760’s. A traditional Toby jug is a figurine of a
seated man, usually stout and smiling, holding a mug of ale in one hand and a
pipe in the other. His 18th-century
attire is a long coat and a three-cornered hat. The hat is shaped so that it is
the spout on the jug. There is a handle
on the back. The name Toby may come from
Shakespeare’s Toby Belch (Twelfth Night) or from Toby Philphot, a fictional
pub-patron.
 |
| Sir Winston Churchill |
The figurines grew in popularity
and variety in the 19
th century.
Potteries in Europe and the U.S. produced versions. Character jugs became popular in early 20
th
century. They are the heads of famous people or fictional characters. Their head or hats are spouts and they have
handles thus qualifying them as jugs.
Royal Doulton and Beswick are the best-known of the potteries that
produced character jugs.
The museum has examples from the earliest days to the present time. There are kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents, writers and musicians. Some are smaller than thimbles. There is a 3-foot-high Toby Philpot that was custom-made for Mullins and his museum.
 |
| Groucho Marx and Buddy Holly |
 |
| Barack Obama |
Perhaps you have a Toby jug (or
two, or ten). Perhaps you collect
memorabilia about Elvis or the Beatles, U.S. Presidents or Shakespearean
characters. The American Toby Mug Museum
is a fascinating window into popular culture and history. It’s close to home and worth the visit!
# # # #
American Toby Mug Museum
910 Chicago Avenue
Evanston 60202
10-5 Wednesday-Friday; 10-5
first and third Saturdays
Free admission.
 |
| Back home: my collection |
 |
| Mrs. Loan |
Mrs. Loan, the librarian, is my favorite!
and Paths and Stiles. 
Though I didn't acquire much fabric I did acquire some other treasures.
And, finally: a new project using 2" squares. 
