Raise a toast to Toby Philpot!

 (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 18^th-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!

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American Toby Mug Museum

910 Chicago Avenue

Evanston  60202

                www.tobyjugmuseum.com

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!