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Not currently on display at the V&A

John Barleycorn

Jug
1933 (designed), 1934 (introduced), ca. 1934 - 1939 (made)
Artist/Maker
Royal Doulton (manufacturer)
C.J. Noke (designer)
Place of origin
Burslem (made)

Introduced in 1934, John Barleycorn was the first in a long line of popular Character Jugs produced by Royal Doulton. The figure of John Barleycorn appears in English folk ballads, and personifies the cereal crop barley and the alcoholic beverages produced from it.


Object details

Category
Ceramics
Object type
Jug
TitleJohn Barleycorn (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, slip-cast, painted in underglaze colours
Earthenware
Brief description
Jug, 'John Barleycorn', Royal Doulton, designed 1933
Physical description
Earthenware jug, slip-cast, one side modelled as a face representing John Barleycorn. The handle positioned high to one side, this terminating within the mouth of the jug. Naturalistic painting in underglaze colours, the reverse of the jug and handle brown.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.7cm
  • Width: 17.8cm
  • Depth: 12.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'John Barleycorn / Old lad.' (Inscribed on reverse.)
  • 'D5327', painted in blue on base. A small vertical dash below. (Pattern / model number. )
  • 'ROYAL DOULTON / ENGLAND' in circular form around a geometrical device, above which 'MADE IN ENGLAND' and a crown surmounted by a lion, and below which 'Rd No 782778', printed in green, on base. (Manufacturer's mark and Patent Office registration number. )
Credit line
Given by Barry Green in memory of Beryl I.M. Green
Object history
John Barleycorn was the first of Royal Doulton's Character Jugs to be produced. Early examples such as this have a handle that terminates within the mouth of the jug. This was later remodelled. Smaller versions of the John Barleycorn jug were also produced by Royal Doulton.
Summary
Introduced in 1934, John Barleycorn was the first in a long line of popular Character Jugs produced by Royal Doulton. The figure of John Barleycorn appears in English folk ballads, and personifies the cereal crop barley and the alcoholic beverages produced from it.
Bibliographic references
  • Desmond Eyles. Royal Doulton Character & Toby Jugs. Stoke-on-Trent: Royal Doulton Tableware Limited, 1979. p. 91.
  • Desmond Eyles. The Doulton Burslem Wares. London: Barrie & Jenkins / Royal Doulton, 1980. pp. 83-87.
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.131-2012

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Record createdJanuary 31, 2013
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1260593/john-barleycorn-jug-cj-noke/
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