Naive Folk Art Sussex Pottery Pig Jug, Circa 1870

Naive Folk Art Sussex Pottery Pig Jug and Cover.

From the Belle-Vue Pottery.
Frederick Mitchell.
Rye.
Circa 1870.

This Sussex pig from the Belle-Vue Pottery Rye is actually a drinking vessel with a removable head that can be used as a cup and its body when tilted back used as a jug - and this particular example is in amazing condition. 

In Sussex, these pigs were used at weddings when each guest is invited to drink a hogshead of beer to the health of the bride and at other social and convivial meetings On these occasions each person is expected to drink this cup or hog's head full of liquor 

The interior of its head is inscribed by its maker with a cross 'X' and within this cross, it bears three letters R.S.W. and in the remaining space the word Rye, the letters stand for 'Rustic Sussex Ware' 
Dimensions: 5 1.2 inches high x 8 1/2 inches long x 4 inches deep

The pig's shoulder is also inscribed in Sussex dialect with the words ' Won't be druv' which come from a local rhyme:- 

And you can pook 
And you can shove 
But a Sussex Pig 
He wun't be druv.

Reference:

The Ceramic Art of Great Britain, By Llewellynn Frederick William Jewitt, page 262-3.
The Bellevue Pottery in the Ferry Road, Rye, Sussex was established in 1869 by the late Mr Frederick Mitchell son and partner of the late Mr William Mitchell of the Cadborough Pottery for the manufacture of Sussex Rustic Ware.

This ware is of peculiar but highly pleasing character and in it a large variety of fancy articles flower baskets candlesticks jugs vases pilgrims bottles &c are made. The clay is peculiarly light of tolerably close texture and is capable of being worked into any form. The glaze which is of equal richness with that of Fig 846 Sussex Pig Drinking Vessel Rockingham ware is of exceedingly good quality and it has a rich effect over the mottling or splashing which characterizes this ware Some of the vessels are decorated with the leaf and head of the staple product of the county the hop or with other excellent copies of leaves and flowers &c.

The peculiarity of this Sussex Rustic Ware is its extreme lightness and the richness of its mottling and glaze One article worthy of especial notice as made at these works and formerly at Cadborough is the Sussex Pig Fig 846 

This is a drinking vessel of the same general character as the bears which will be found described under the heads of Brampton Nottingham &c. The body when filled with ale stands on end on its tail and the head lifts off to be used as a drinking cup precisely in the same manner as with the bears. In Sussex, these pigs are used at weddings when each guest is invited to drink a hogshead of beer to the health of the bride and at other social and convivial meetings. On these occasions each person is expected to drink this cup or hog's head full of liquor.

Dimensions

Price

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Condition report

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