Property from the Collection of Stanley J. Seeger and Christopher Cone
A rare Staffordshire salt-glazed stoneware bear jug and cover, circa 1750
No reserve
Lot Closed
June 9, 03:39 PM GMT
Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 GBP
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Read more.Lot Details
Description
modelled seated holding a small bear, covered in chipped clay to resemble fur, the neck of the jug pierced with seven small holes, its head forming the cover, with brown slip decoration to its muzzle, eyes, paws, and around the neck of the cover
Height 22 cm., 8 ¾ 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 through the snout or holding a small dog or bear. 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. The present example is unusual for the addition of pierced holes around the neck, from the time of manufacture, in the manner of puzzle jugs of the period.
A bear jug and cover of similar form is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London accession no. 414:936/&A-1885.