A RARE CHINESE EUROPEAN-SUBJECT CIDER-JUG

Toby Philpot (`Fill pot') was the nickname given to Henry Elwes, the notorious 18th Century Yorkshire drinker who was thought to be the inspiration for Staffordshire Toby jugs. He is depicted holding a tankard of ale and a pipe (here depicted to his side), and was mentioned in the old English drinking song based on a poem by Tristan Shandy `The Brown Jug', which was published in 1761.

A similar jug with cover (but with a gilt band at the rim instead of the blue enamel band as here), from the Hodroff Collection, and formerly in the Mildred R. and Rafi Y. Mottahedeh Collection, was sold at Christie's New York, 23 January 2008, lot 399; it was illustrated by Howard & Ayers, China for the West, London and New York, 1978, vol. I, p. 347, and also by M. Beurdeley, Porcelain of the East India Companies, London, 1962, p. 164, cat. 68. Another, without cover and also with just a gilt rim, was sold at Christie's London, 1 November 1982, lot 179.