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Lot 319*

A very rare 'Fiddler' Toby jug from the 'Midshipman Family', circa 1785

Amended
1 December 2021, 10:30 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £8,287.50 inc. premium

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A very rare 'Fiddler' Toby jug from the 'Midshipman Family', circa 1785

Attributed to Jacob Marsh, modelled seated and playing a violin, a jug on the ground to his right, his hair secured at the back with a distinctive tied ribbon, particularly well-coloured with a green coat with ochre collar, brown shoes and a light blue waistcoat partially unbuttoned to reveal his necktie, his tricorn hat with a lobed border in brown and ochre, 19.5cm high

Footnotes

Provenance
Bute Collection, Christie's sale, 8 July 1996, lot 97
James and Timmey Challenger Collection, Chicago

This jug is listed by Vic Schuler, Collecting British Toby Jugs (Third Edition 1999), p.56 as number ten of the eleven 'Fiddler' jugs recorded at the time of writing. Despite their rarity, remarkably a total of six jugs from the 'Midshipman' group, including three 'Fiddlers', were included in the Challenger Collection providing a unique opportunity for comparison. The other two 'Fiddlers' were sold by Bonhams on 15 December 2020, lot 39 and 23 June 2021, lot 74.

The maker of the group was identified when a 'Lord Rodney' from the group was sold by Philips on 29 November 1989, lot 305a. This was inscribed on the base 'J Marsh, Folley'. Jacob Marsh is recorded as a potter in Burslem in 1803, moving to the Lane Delph Pottery in 1806. He is listed in 'The History and Gazeteer and Directory of Staffordshire' in 1834 as 'Jacob Marsh of Golden Hill House (Foley) gent'.

Saleroom notices

Please note that the first line of provenance for this jug should read 'Bute Collection, Christie's sale, 8 July 1996, lot 2'.

Additional information

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