Novelty Frog Mug Jolly Topers Moulded Rockingham Treacle Glazed Antique c 1860

A novelty mug or tankard with a relief moulded exterior design usually called "The Jolly Topers". It features on one side with a couple a man and a woman, drinking wine from wine glasses, him also holding a jug, there is a barrel in the background under a fruit laden grapevines. The other side is a jovial looking man also surrounded by fruit laden grapevines.

Inside the mug, standing on the bottom, and apparently trying to climb out, is a realistically modelled frog. It would have been a surprise for any unsuspecting drinker who had been handed the mug when full, after drinking half of the contents, to have been greeted with the frogs face peeking from the remaining contents.

The mug has a Rockingham type treacle glaze giving it a great rustic look. It is an attractive, amusing and collectable pottery tankard, mug or single handed drinking vessel.

There are no maker's marks as is usual with this type of ware but it was probably produced either by Rockingham or one the factories in the Yorkshire area, possibly by Kilnhurst Pottery near Swinton South Yorkshire, England, who made pint ale mugs with a similar moulded design. See plates 116 and 117 of page 83 of The Yorkshire Potteries by John D Griffin for similarly designed items.

This frog mug dates from around 1860 and is a great item for any collector of treacle glazed items or Novelty items.

It is in very good antique condition, no chips nor cracks, there are two disguised glaze flakes to the front of the mug on the branches of the grapevine. Please see the images

Free UK and International postage with this item

Height 4 inches ( 10 cm)
Length 5 3/4 inches (14.6 cm)
Width 4 1/8 inches (10.5 cm)
Weight 546 grammes unpacked