Description
Physical description
Ornate relief-moulded and hand-painted presentation musical jug with lion-shaped handle and acanthus leaf decoration below spout. This large baluster-shaped jug bears embossed designs: a portrait head (three-quarter-left profile) of King Edward VIII within an oval panel enclosed by the Garter in blue (with motto). The oval panel is supported by (left) a lion and (right) the unicorn; at base a scroll marked 'EMPEROR . OF . INDIA. Above the portrait (on scroll), the text: 'EDWARD VIII CORONATION MAY.12 1937'. On the opposite side (again in moulded high relief) a herald, with trumpet, on horseback, with a view of Windsor Castle in the background. Above the herald a scroll marked 'GOD SAVE THE KING' and below the herald the text 'ABDICATED . DEC 10TH 1936.' At the front of the jug's body (below spout), the badge of the North Staffordshire Regiment (the Prince of Wales's feathers above a Staffordshire knot) and the text: 'PRESENTED TO / COLONEL A. E. BLIZZARD T.D. / BY / THE FIFTH NORTH STAFFORDS / (1914-1919) / RE-UNION ASSOCIATION'.
The underside of the foot of the jug bears hand-painted maker's details: 'MADE BY S FIELDING & Co LTD., STOKE on TRENT, ENGLAND. CROWN DEVON. MUSICAL CORONATION JUG. LIMITED EDITION OF 1500. THIS JUG IS No 8.' The musical box mechanism is held within the base of the jug. The is a sprung switch on the base that indicates that the music was activated when the jug was picked up,
History note
Donated by a former Vice Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum in 1972 (together with a pair of Sholto Douglas's First World War flying gloves - the gloves share the same accession number 86/72). The highly ornate jug is usefully described in a letter from the donor as an 'inscribed Toby Jug which was presented to Colonel A. E. Blizzard, T.D., by the Fifth North Staffordshire (1914-1919) Reunion Association in appreciation of his Presidency of the Association over many years as an ex Commanding Officer of the Fifth North Staffords. I see that the Jug is titled 'Crown Devon Musical Coronation Jug. Limited Edition of 1500. This Jug is No. 8 made by S Fielding & Co. Ltd., Stoke-on-Trent, England', and it is further inscribed 'Edward VIII Coronation May 12th, 1937'. And at the bottom 'Abdicated December 10th, 1936' I think it is an unusual piece which is suitably housed in the Imperial War Museum.' (Letter held in acquisition file).