Property from the Collection of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone
A Nottingham salt-glazed brown stoneware bear jug and cover, circa 1750
No reserve
Lot closes
June 9, 03:41 PM GMT
Estimate
3,500 - 4,500 GBP
Starting Bid
1 GBP
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Read more.Lot Details
Description
modelled on all fours, covered in chipped clay to resemble fur, its head forming the cover and with pierced snout suspending a single-link chain
Height 28 cm., 11 in.
Bear jugs, distinguished by their charmingly naïve modelling, are associated with the popular 18th century amusements of performing bears and the vicious sport of bear-baiting. White salt-glazed stoneware bears were made in Staffordshire and brown ones at Nottingham. It is usually assumed that the bears were used as jugs or tobacco jars and each example is unique, hand-modelled seated or on all fours and often with a chain or holding a small dog. Their heads were made separately, possibly so that they could serve as lids and cups. For further discussion, see Julia Poole, English Pottery, Fitzwilliam Museum Handbooks, Cambridge, 1995, no. 24, pp. 58-59.