Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125, Edwin and Susan Davies Gallery

Two-Handled Mug

1890-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This generous-sized mug is a type known as a 'tyg', made in England from the 17th century. Tygs usually have two or four handles, but sometimes as many as eleven, arranged equidistantly around the body. They may also have several spouts, and be highly decorated with applied patterning and lettering. Tygs were traditionally associated with communal, celebratory drinking at weddings and harvest festivals. They may also have been used for warm spiced ale or posset in winter. The earliest-known dated tyg was made in the area around Wrotham, Kent. Country skills and cultural traditions, such as the making of tygs, were especially attractive to followers of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Materials & Making
The maker of this mug, Edwin Beer Fishley (1832-1911), ran a family-owned pottery established at the end of the 18th century in Fremington, Devon. Using the local red clay and skills handed down through generations, Fishley made useful wares, sometimes highly decorated. However, he was aware of urban fashions and may have adapted fashionable forms and styles for his products to make them more saleable. He was also interested in using lustrous glazes, references to historic ceramics and new shapes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, slip-decorated, blue-glazed
Brief description
Blue double handled mug
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.2cm
  • Width: 28.3cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 04/01/1999 by kl
Gallery label
British Galleries: True to Arts and Crafts traditions, this mug was inspired by country pottery of the type used in Devon at harvest time. These drinking vessels were known as 'tygs' and often had three or more handles dividing the rim into sections. They could be highly decorated with slip-trailed patterns. However, this mug relies entirely on its simple, functional form, suggesting that Fishley was aware of fashionable taste.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by Miss Marjorie Hunt
Object history
Made by Edwin Beer Fishley (born in 1832, died in 1911) at the Fremington Pottery, Barnstaple, Devon
Summary
Object Type
This generous-sized mug is a type known as a 'tyg', made in England from the 17th century. Tygs usually have two or four handles, but sometimes as many as eleven, arranged equidistantly around the body. They may also have several spouts, and be highly decorated with applied patterning and lettering. Tygs were traditionally associated with communal, celebratory drinking at weddings and harvest festivals. They may also have been used for warm spiced ale or posset in winter. The earliest-known dated tyg was made in the area around Wrotham, Kent. Country skills and cultural traditions, such as the making of tygs, were especially attractive to followers of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Materials & Making
The maker of this mug, Edwin Beer Fishley (1832-1911), ran a family-owned pottery established at the end of the 18th century in Fremington, Devon. Using the local red clay and skills handed down through generations, Fishley made useful wares, sometimes highly decorated. However, he was aware of urban fashions and may have adapted fashionable forms and styles for his products to make them more saleable. He was also interested in using lustrous glazes, references to historic ceramics and new shapes.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.443A-1962

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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