Folk Art Sussex Pottery Pig Jug and Cup From the Belle-Vue Pottery, Rye

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