Lyman, Fenton & Co.
Toby Jug

CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Toby Jug
Datec. 1849–1858
Made inBennington, Vermont, United States
MediumLead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
Dimensions6 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 5 1/2 in. (16.5 × 8.9 × 14 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg
Object numberB.57.49
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Maple Bedroom
Exposé

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

The toby form, traditionally a seated figure holding a mug and a pipe and wearing a tricorn hat, was introduced into English pottery in the mid-eighteenth century.  Widely manufactured and popular into the nineteenth century, the toby jug was first produced at the Bennington factory in the late 1840s. The firm made several models of bust-length pitchers as well as this full-length seated figure, all with Rockingham-style glazes.  The form was also adapted to create small covered match safes (see B.57.16). While most examples bear the Lyman, Fenton mark, this one is unusual in bearing the mark more commonly seen on scroddled wares.

Related examples: PMA (Spargo 1969, pl. XI); a scroddled example (Barret 1958, p. 318, pl. 415); a Rockingham example (Barret 1958, p. 319, pl. 416e).

Book excerpt: David B. Warren, Michael K. Brown, Elizabeth Ann Coleman, and Emily Ballew Neff. American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection. Houston: Princeton Univ. Press, 1998.


Provenance[Whimsy Antiques, Arlington, Vermont]; purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, 1957; given to MFAH, by 1966.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
[no inscriptions]
Impressed on underside: UNITED STATES / POTTERY CO. / BENNINGTON, Vt. [Barret 1958, p. 14, fig. Xh]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Sugar Bowl
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.46.A,.B
Toby Barrel Flask or Bottle
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.17
Sugar Bowl
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.51.A,.B
Soap Box
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.52.A,.B
Pitcher
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.32
Pie Plate
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.55
Pie Plate
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.56
Pie Plate
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.57
Pie Plate
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.54
Creamer
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.50
Washbasin
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.31
Toby Match Safe
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.16.A,.B