Toby Jug News

Thin Man Toby Jug

Tennants 21.7.18,
Lot 44: A Creamware 'Thin Man' Toby Jug, circa 1780
Previously bought at Fieldings 3 months earlier for £1100. Lot: 101

Auction terms and conditions should be adhered to at all times.

Watching this Thin-man Toby jug sell on-line produced something new.
With a lower estimate of a £1000 the auctioneer received no interest and bidding opened at £500. It quickly spiralled up contested by the Internet and phone bidder who eventually had the highest bid of £2200, with my pc bidding platform asking for £2500. After quite a long pause and the next bid not forthcoming a message was relayed to the auctioneer that the £2200 bid was retracted, the lot was then apparently sold to the Internet at the previous bid of £2000. I am not sure how an electronic recording is reversible on a rejected bid. Surly the lot should have been re-offered without the time waster, as all bids should be null and void unless reinstated by the under-bidder; it then would have every chance of selling at the reserve.
Sales are normally recorded for clarity, but using a personal screen saver program might be a good idea in today's electronic age.

Lot 18. An early Toby jug in a multi lot of five.

If you are wondering why this Ralph Wood toby jug had an opening bid of just 12 GBP then email me for extra large images. Viewing essential.
Always limit your risk and view.

Result: 500 GBP

A set of WW1 Toby Jugs.

Golding Young & Mawer 18.7.18

A full set of eleven Wilkinson Toby jugs, each designed by Sir Francis Carruthers Gould, modelled in the form of First World War Generals, Monarchs, Presidents etc., to include Marshall Foch, King George V, President Wilson, Marshall Joffre, Admiral Beatty, President Botha, Sir John French, Lord Kitchener, Admiral Jellicoe, Lloyd George and Earl Haigh, various sizes, printed signatures and marks to base.

Estimate:2500-3500 GBP

Result: 3600 GBP

Three early Yorkshire Toby Jugs.

Thomas N. Miller 26.6.18

Amongst this tray of ceramic items were two early Prattware Toby jugs and a Leeds type. You have to look closely to spot all three including the damage on them. They didn't escape unnoticed realizing a respectable bid of 320 GBP for all.

Contrasting results for these two Prattware jugs.

The Yorkshire type jug (left) including a Staffordshire Punch door stop was sold at Wright Marshall Ltd. for 80 GBP. The small jug looks to be a replacement for either a small Toby or sparrow beak jug. but still represents good value when overall quality is taken into account. An excellent buy where very little can be lost if left untouched .

The other Toby shown realized 550 GBP at David Lay (compare its price to a much finer similar example in our 'Auction Best Buys'). The suggestion and lack of a pipe will always put some collectors off. I am not certain that this model ever had a pipe or even a cup with comparison jugs also having restored pipes. It isn't uncommon to find an empty raised right hand on later jugs, given the high price there is every possibility that a pipe is intended, lets hope not.

A small enamel Postillion Toby Jug.

These attractive small Postillion Toby jugs are not as rare as once pronounced. Before the 2006 Skinner sale they would retail around the 500 GBP mark, that sale (Skinner) changed minds with one selling for 3810 GBP. Now with several coming onto the market the prices are returning to realistic levels.
This colourful example has just sold on Ebay for 150 GBP.

Gildings.

27.3.18.

This wonderful Toby jug with no restorations was sold at Gildings auction to a very satisfied private collector.

It's been suggested that collectors should be deprived of knowing what's coming to auction via the net. Do we really want to ban 'The-Saleroom.com'.
The buyer/collector of this Toby jug whom I have known for many years was most annoyed and said. 'First we are deprived of knowing if an item is restored or not and now they want to keep all Toby jug auctions sales a secret. They really have no interest in collectors at all.'

Specialist pottery expert Jonathan Horne always encouraged interest in collecting and dealing thus creating a vibrant antique community.

Fieldings Stourbridge

24.3.18.

Collectors embrace buying at auction at this popular venue that's building quite a reputation for selling early Toby jugs.
The offerings this time were a mixture of running-glaze, Prattware and two late Delft type jugs, all results can be viewed on our auction pages. The majority were not in the best condition and the few I viewed carried no dealers/collection stickers. Great condition reports were available as usual but a personal inspection was the order of the day. Best prices were paid for the jugs that carried the usual hooks, Village Idiot, Thin Man, Sailor, and Ralph Wood. Although results for these were well above estimates they can still be considered bargains when compared to similar of today's trade offerings. Aesthetics is all important when buying so don't be afraid to ask for more images. Compare the Village Idiot's hat which is the wrong shape and lists to one side, it could be totally restored.

Result: 1150 GBP

Martin & Pole

21.2.18.

This small Fiddler Toby jug caught me by surprise when it came up for sale at my local sale room in Wokingham. Who would have thought such a rarity would turn up so close to the only other similar model that can be seen in the Brighton museum. This small bespoke jug always carries a big price being sort by Early pottery and Toby jug collectors alike. The over-burnt manganese hat was unusual, the orange breeches and porridge crazed glaze different which made viewing essential if you have deep pockets. Consult Pat Halfpenny's books for more information and Toby jug collectors should compare it with the traditional model. I hope the minor damage is never touched on what is probably the nicest one I have seen in over 40 years.

Result: 1150 GBP

Twelve Toby jugs divided into 3 lots.

Adam Partridge. 22.2.18.

An interesting lot of 4 Toby jugs was sold by Adam Partridge Auctioneers. A green coat running glaze traditional, a Ralph Wood sailor and the remaining two of no consequence. They did extremely well for their condition realizing a bid of 1500 GBP against an estimate of just 60 GBP. All lots are posted on our auction page. Adam Partridge will always oblige with extra photographs posted on their website on request with the usual condition reports alongside description. They certainly helped me. The hat on the geen coat traditional had many cracks that carried into the hair and body, one shoe was restored. Heavy crazed staining is apparent which can be problematic on a white background. I thought the sailor to have been dropped at some time and needed a personal viewing. Extensive cracks around the neck and odd shaped handle should have shouted beware. Did the missing small handle draw your eye away from the main body of the jug.

Result: 1500 GBP

Condition is all in the "Detail"

This jug may not be for you but I really like Peter Wilson's comprehensive 14 detailed photographs and condition statement for selling this early Toby jug. Bidding is being conducted in house and live on the Internet. Full size images can be viewed at:
Peter Wilson. https://www.peterwilson.co.uk/
Sale date: 7.7.16
Catalogue Description.
Lot 66. Staffordshire Ralph Wood type toby jug, typically modelled with pipe and ale jug, of the earlier hollow foot variety, early 19th century, 24cm high
Condition report: Old restoration to his hat and the rear corner of the base, chips to the front edge, glaze wear to the handle and the edge of the jug.

Result: 90 GBP

Gerrards Auction Rooms 2014

Catalogue Description.
18th Century Toby Jug Of Ralph Wood Type.

While working on reviving our archive news reports I came across this Prattware jug that was for sale at Gerrards auction less than two years earlier than the one below. It's good to compare auction estimates which are a good indication on how an auctioneer views the market. Gerrards must have deemed it buoyant as the estimate for this jug was 800-1000 GBP

Prices continue to tumble with this nice looking Prattware Toby jug only securing a low bid of 220 GBP.

Gerrards Auction Rooms 26.5.16
It was described by the auctioneers as:
19thC Ralph Wood Style Staffordshire Toby Jug. Odd Chips To Glaze, Height 10 Inches
Condition.
No Restoration. Good condition, with odd glaze chips and missing glaze to the mug which he is holding in his hand.
Estimate 80-120 GBP

EBay still draws the collectors looking for a bargain.

What could be clearer than this description.
Here today we bring you an antique Staffordshire Prattware colour Toby jug.
This jug is Circa 1820 apx 9" tall
There are no markings on the item to show makers mark or where it was made.
There is no major damage to this jug there are some cracks to glaze and some missing glaze/colour
There is some marks to the item

This early 19th century enamel toby had its faults that were more than compensated with a very fair sale result of just 102 GBP. The degraded black might have put some off but far better to see the original condition than a restored painted finish as you will never be sure what other damage lies beneath. It was offered for sale with 8 photographs that highlighted its true condition. If the flaking distracts, touch it up with a special water based model paint that can be easily removed without any further damage, ovoid the sandpaper at all costs.
It seems enamel and Prattware jugs are still considered secondary when compared with running glaze examples.

Ralph Wood Bacchus and Pan Toby jug

Brightwells 20.4.16
Description: A majolica Bacchus, Pan and the serpent Wine Jug, 12 1/2in H
This lovely colourful Ralph Wood Bacchuss Toby jug was described as majolica but is instantly recognizable to all collectors of Ralph Wood pieces. Not all liked it enough with the Toby realizing a meager 120 GBP
Estimate was 80-120 GBP

Miniture Ralph Wood Toby jug

East Bristol Auctions 14.4.16
Having failed to sell on two previous occasions with an estimate of 1000 GBP this nice small Ralph Wood Toby jug is being Re-listed. The new estimate is a very reasonable 300 GBP. My first purchase of this model at auction was in the early eighties at a cost of 600 GBP. Definitely worth following.
Price realized 340 GBP

EBay.

This colourful jug had a turbulent sale on EBay last week. It was offered at a "Buy it Now" price of around 1200 GBP that gradually reduced to 700 GBP while at the same time being offered with a bidding starting price of 199 GBP. It eventually found its own level selling for 399 GBP.
With over two hundred jugs for sale around the country at this time they can quickly become stale, so it is important to give your toby the right sale attribution. This one was described as:
A Rare English Antique Ralph Wood Pottery of Burslem Staffordshire. Toby Philpot Jug, Whieldon Ware with rare muted colour run glaze, circa 1765.
I have never come across a R.Wood toby with a running glaze black hat and such a heavy handle in all my dealing years. Attribution should always be taken with a pinch of salt and more attention paid to what is before you. This toby only had age related wear which was clearly shown in numerous photographs that buyers seem to prefer. What you should take away from this sale is that a good R.Wood toby can be as little as 399 GBP. There has never been a better time to collect English pottery.
Ref: Ralph Wood Toby jugs.

Auction

Being sold at Great Western Auctions on the 18.3.16 is this lovely Scottish Toby jug. Twelve photographs will inspire confidence for all collectors worried about buying damage items. Sometimes described as circa 1800, and even one impressed with an implausible 1794 date will still not convince me they are anything other than Victorian. Competitively priced at 60-80 GBP this colourful jug would add to any collection.
Ref: The evolution of the Yorkshire Toby jug.

Peachtree and Bennett

This was an interesting sale of mixed toby jugs that covered several periods. It was probably assembled in the late 70s when you take into account the old yellowing and part restorations. Notice how all the fine glaze chipping / frosting has been left untouched with only essential work carried out. The unrecorded white toby jug is where you should focus your attention. It is potted in a traditional style with a narrow plinth supporting a flat unglazed base, a real collectors piece but it only achieved a winning bid of $10. I have listed most of the other early jugs but if you want to see the full auction in greater detail do view Peachtree's own website where each jug can be seen with numerous large photographs for each lot.
Rupert Toovey also had an unusual jug (left) with a flat unglazed base that was signed R Wood. The jovial character was nicely coloured in running glazes and realized a bid of 360 pounds.
peachtreebennett.hibid.com A website to bookmark and follow.
http://www.tooveys.com/

Any jug with a flat unglazed base will always be of interest
Be cautious and view the package as a whole as there is every chance it could be a studio piece or fake. The Peachtree jug was sold at a bargain price of $10 but can you imagine the possibilities if glazed in prattware colours.

Reproductions

Viewing other Staffordshire pottery can be of great help when determining if an iterm is genuine or not. The pair of cow groups are glazed differently from the original Thomas Parr examples Compare them to the small toby jug below. Another clue on how to avoid reproduction toby jugs.

Photo left: Reproduction 20th century cow groups and a Kent factory bull baiting group.

A TRADITIONAL STYLE 19TH CENTURY TOBY JUG

Having a majolica style coat is part of a series of tobies made in the late 19th/20th century. Some of these, including a Rodney's sailor with blue and white tin glaze type finishes, are probably still being made today. For a comparison see Capt. Price page 136, plate LXV where one is shown in black & white and listed as "A Fake".

Contemporary-Fake toby jugs.

2.1.13

This is an interesting jug that we have only seen twice, the earliest time being in the late 1980's. We were offered one recently which we will list on our new fakes-contemporary page; this will be on line shortly. It has very unusual relief moulding to the chair back and front of the seat behind his legs, the overall height approximately 11 inches. The hand in front of the little jug is extremely large and of grotesque wrinkled appearance. The size and majolica type glaze suggests a Portuguese type jug but it could also be an early 1980's Chinese copy?