Punch and Judy mug thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Punch and Judy mug

Mug
ca.1975 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This ironstone pottery mug is decorated with a transfer print of the crocodile, an adversary of Mr. Punch in a Punch and Judy show. It was manufactured in Staffordshire as one of a set of six mugs featuring the Punch and Judy characters Punch, Judy, Toby the dog, the Crocodile, Joey the Clown and the Constable. Punch and Judy shows are a feature of British seaside entertainment. Their history in Great Britain stretches back to the puppet show that Samuel Pepys saw in Covent Garden on 9 May 1662 performed by the Italian puppeteer Signor Bologna.

Staffordshire Potteries specialised in producing utilitarian home ware in the 1970s, such as plates, bowls and mugs. Ironstone pottery was a form of durable, porcelain-like ceramic developed in the Staffordshire potteries area during the early 19th century for mass production. The term 'ironstone' was patented by Charles James Mason, who issued wares with the backstamp 'Mason's Ironstone China'.






Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePunch and Judy mug (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Clay, ink and glaze
Brief description
Ironstone pottery mug printed with an image of the crocodile. One of a set of six decorated with characters from a Punch and Judy show. Staffordshire Potteries Ltd., England, ca.1975. Gerald Morice Collection
Physical description
Ironstone pottery mug printed with a lime green and emerald green image of the crocodile, with a speech bubble from his mouth marked 'arrr'. The base with the imprinted mark in black ink: 'Staffordshire Potteries Ltd. Ironstone. Made in England', and the impressed mark: 'MADE IN ENGLAND'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.5cm
  • Of top diameter: 8.5cm
Credit line
Given by Gerald Morice
Subject depicted
Association
Summary
This ironstone pottery mug is decorated with a transfer print of the crocodile, an adversary of Mr. Punch in a Punch and Judy show. It was manufactured in Staffordshire as one of a set of six mugs featuring the Punch and Judy characters Punch, Judy, Toby the dog, the Crocodile, Joey the Clown and the Constable. Punch and Judy shows are a feature of British seaside entertainment. Their history in Great Britain stretches back to the puppet show that Samuel Pepys saw in Covent Garden on 9 May 1662 performed by the Italian puppeteer Signor Bologna.

Staffordshire Potteries specialised in producing utilitarian home ware in the 1970s, such as plates, bowls and mugs. Ironstone pottery was a form of durable, porcelain-like ceramic developed in the Staffordshire potteries area during the early 19th century for mass production. The term 'ironstone' was patented by Charles James Mason, who issued wares with the backstamp 'Mason's Ironstone China'.




Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.1894-2013

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Record createdMay 21, 2013
Record URL
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