SIZE
11 inches tall

DESCRIPTION
 I lean toward Staffordshire over Sunderland because of paucity of pink. But I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a southern maker in Dorset.  Most of these large commemorative jugs are transfer decorated, usually with  boring poetry, a sailing ship, or the Wearmouth Bridge, etc. The decoration on this piece is off the charts. Along with the elaborate floral motifs and dazzling polychrome horses and coach-- this piece was obviously a custom order.

Aside from its obvious aesthetic qualities this jug is thick with historic intrigue. Here's what I found:

William Blaney is listed as an "Ag Labourer" age 43 in a 1851 Poole Census.  Ale house license records in Poole indicate he was the owner/licensee of the London Tavern from 1825 to 1827.  The coach decoration may indicate Blaney had ideas of becoming a "coaching inn" at some point but the London Tavern is not described as such in the Poole commercial directories.

The” husbandman” transfer on the reverse side is also intriguing. This was the time of the repeal of the Combination Acts that had banned trade unions.  The so-called "Friendly Secret Societies" and Unions were hot button issues at this time-- especially for agricultural workers in the vicinity of Dorset, the location of the so-called "Tolpuddle Martyrs" uproar (check it out on Wikopedia).  This jug is of historical significance in that context as well as general history of Poole Dorset.

Aside from historic considerations this is a magnificent huge thing guaranteed to impress your friends.  As a one of a kind object it probably belongs in a museum.

CONDITION
Break on rim with fragments insitu. Home style repair. Though relatively innocuous on the outside, it could be improved with proper attention-- or left as-is. Aside from this quite good condition.

SOLD