Terms of the Trade: Toby Jug

A Toby Jug is the name given to a popular British pottery vessel modelled in the form of a stout seated gentleman, usually dressed in 18th century style frock coat and tricorn hat. The jovial character is often depicted with a mug of beer in one hand and a pipe in the other.

The tricorn hat acts as the jug’s spout while a handle is attached to the characters back for the purpose of pouring. It is thought that the British design evolved from a similar pattern of Delft jugs, popular at the time in the Netherlands.

The Makers Series: William Kent

The foremost architect of the early Georgian era, through his country houses, furniture design and landscape architecture, William Kent determined the design aesthetic that would define the Hanoverian period.

Born in 1685, Kent was actually christened William Cant, to William and Esther Cant of the town of Bridlington in Yorkshire’s East Riding. Having shown an early enthusiasm for painting and the arts, William’s professional career began in humble circumstances as apprentice to a signwriter and coach painter.

The Makers Series: Tabriz Rugs

Tabriz Rugs

Situated in the far northwest of Iran, in the province of East Azerbaijan, the city of Tabriz has been a renowned centre for the production of fine Persian rugs and carpets since the 12th century.

The city’s ancient weavings were so highly regarded that during the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736) Tabriz weavers were commissioned to supply carpets and rugs for the Shas’s palaces and important holy sites. 

Meet the Dealer: Laura Bordignon

The BADA is delighted to introduce the new ‘Meet the Dealer’ series. Get to know the people and personalities that make the BADA, as we delve into their businesses, passions, and insights on buying and collecting. Through a series of interviews, we uncover their stories and discover what drives them in the world of art and antiques. 

 

The Makers Series: John Speed

The Makers Series: John Speed

One of the finest cartographers and historians of the Elizabethan era, John Speed’s work influenced generations and helped unite our disparate regions by establishing the notion of a British national identity. 

Although contemporary records are unclear, it is said that Speed was born in the village of Farndon, Cheshire in 1551 or 1552. It is thought that his mother died in childbirth or shortly after, since his father, also John Speed, is understood to have remarried by 1556.