bear jug

Summary

White stoneware jug in the form of a bear standing on all fours, constructed from thrown cylindrical bottle with narrow cylindrical neck. Two applied rods to one side of shoulder simulating front legs, two shorter rods at base for back legs, allowing bottle to stand at an angle on one side. Legs terminate in flat incised pads for paws, front paws picked out in dark brown iron-rich slip. Small applied tail at base of bottle opposite legs. Cover in the form of bear's head, thrown globular bowl with cylindrical neck and thrown tube applied to one side to represent bear's snout, with slits along each side to indicate teeth and pierced hole at the top for chain (missing). Two applied upright ears and button eyes filled with dark brown slip, neck decorated with a dark brown slip-trailed band and groups of small brown dots. Head and body coated with coarsely shredded white clay grog simulating fur, reserving neck and paws.

Display Label

The Thomas Greg Collection The Greg Collection of English Pottery was given to the Gallery in 1904 by collector and amateur historian Thomas Greg. One of the great collections of English pottery, it was formed at a time when little was known about the history of ceramics in this country. Over forty years Greg systematically acquired some of the best examples of the potter's art, tracing its development over a thousand years. His collection tells the story of English pottery: of experiment and invention, triumph and downfall, from the unknown medieval craftsman to the world domination of Josiah Wedgwood. In many ways, it is a history of England itself. Greg was driven by a fascination with the past and a desire to contribute to scholarly knowledge. He gave his collection to the Gallery in the hope of inspiring a similar sense of wonder in others.