Details
Description
Hogshead Humor: A Victorian Folk Drinking Game
Object: Figural Drinking Vessel (Jug and Cover/Cup)
Origin: Belle-Vue Pottery, Rye, Sussex, England
…
Read more
Hogshead Humor: A Victorian Folk Drinking Game
Object: Figural Drinking Vessel (Jug and Cover/Cup)
Origin: Belle-Vue Pottery, Rye, Sussex, England
Maker: Frederick Mitchell
Date: Circa 1870
Medium: Creamware Earthenware with Mottled/Splashed Glaze
Dimensions: 5 1/2 inches high x 8 1/2 inches long x 4 inches deep (13.97 cm high x 21.59 cm long x 10.16 cm deep).
This exceptional example of Sussex Pig Pottery is not merely a jug but a functional, convivial drinking vessel, meticulously crafted at the Belle-Vue Pottery by Frederick Mitchell. Designed to stand on its tail, the pig's head lifts off to serve as a cup, while its body functions as a flask or jug. This form was traditionally used at local weddings and social gatherings, where guests were expected to drink a "hogshead" (the vessel's cup-full) to the health of the bride or the company.
Rustic Charm and Local Identity
This particular pig is notable for its excellent condition and the inscriptions that firmly tie it to its regional origins. The interior of the removable head is marked with an 'X' and the letters R.S.W. (for 'Rustic Sussex Ware') along with the town name, Rye, confirming its provenance from Mitchell's factory, established in 1869.
Perhaps most charming is the inscription carved into the pig's shoulder: 'Won't be druv' (Won't be driven). This phrase comes from a local rhyme—"You can pook / And you can shove / But a Sussex Pig / He wun't be druv"—a proud dialect saying that embodies the stubborn, independent spirit of the people of Sussex. The piece's rich, mottled brown glaze and extreme lightness were distinguishing characteristics of the Belle-Vue Pottery's wares, often known as "Rustic Ware."
Historical Context
The tradition of making animal-form drinking vessels, such as the Sussex Pig and its counterparts like the "Nottingham Bear," dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries across various British potteries. These forms underscore the close relationship between ceramics and local folk customs, providing decorative whimsy alongside practical function for communal celebrations. The Belle-Vue Pottery, founded by Mitchell after his family's involvement in the nearby Cadborough Pottery, specialized in these unique, locally inspired wares.
Reference
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William. The Ceramic Art of Great Britain, pages 262-263.
(Ref: NY8532/IAMR)
See less
- Dimensions
- 8.5ʺW × 4ʺD × 5.5ʺH
- Period
- Late 19th Century
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Pottery
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Brown
- Condition Notes
- good condition good condition less
Questions about the item?
Returns & Cancellations
Return Policy - All sales are final 48 hours after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the description of the product.
Related Collections
- Royal Delft Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Classical Roman Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Shaker Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Deruta Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Classical Greek Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Portieux Vallerysthal Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Chalcedony Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Crocks
- Cookie Jars
- Wicker Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Apothecary Jars
- Antique Water Jugs
- Japanese Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Candy Jars
- Robinson Ransbottom Pottery Co. Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- 1800s Perfume Bottles
- Murano Glass Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- 1950s Perfume Bottles
- Apothecary Bottles
- Adirondack Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Iittala Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Seguso Vetri d'Arte Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Renaissance Bottles and Jars and Jugs
- Stone Gray Bottles and Jars and Jugs