Not on display

Mug

ca. 1991 (designed), 1991 (made)
Artist/Maker
Devon Ceramics (maker)
Bonnet, Tim (designer)
Place of origin
Totnes (made)

Earthenware mug, standard mug shape with straight sides and a symmetrical handle, but with a large red clown nose in relief on the front which is located in the centre of the design of a face drawn in black and an image of a label in yellow with the words "Attention! This mug is unique it washes itself up (well o.k it doesn't, but bet if you leave it round for long enough, some rather pathetic sucker will do it for you)" Around the bottom are the words "Post it Tm Notes Comic Relief" twice. There is a large clown's nose in red which is the centre of the drawn face.

Object details

Categories
Ceramics
Earthenware
Drinking
Tea, Coffee & Chocolate Wares
Object type
Mug
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, glazed with printed design
Earthenware
Glaze
Printed
Glazed
Brief description
Mug, glazed earthenware with printed design, designed by Tim Bonnet, made by Devon Ceramics, England, 1991.
Physical description
Earthenware mug, standard mug shape with straight sides and a symmetrical handle, but with a large red clown nose in relief on the front which is located in the centre of the design of a face drawn in black and an image of a label in yellow with the words "Attention! This mug is unique it washes itself up (well o.k it doesn't, but bet if you leave it round for long enough, some rather pathetic sucker will do it for you)" Around the bottom are the words "Post it Tm Notes Comic Relief" twice. There is a large clown's nose in red which is the centre of the drawn face.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.2cm
  • With handle height: 16.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Budget Furniture Plc Dulwich Road London SE 24 OPB Tel 01 7371371' (Paper label)
  • 'Attention! This mug is unique it washes itself up (well o.k it doesn't, but bet if you leave it round for long enough, some rather pathetic sucker will do it for you)' (Printed inscription)
  • 'Post it Tm Notes Comic Relief' (Printed inscription)
Gallery label
(20/3/2015)
Gallery 76, case 23; label until 20/3/2015
Mugs With Messages
Mugs are the traditional drinking vessels
of workers and have been made in their
millions. Invery many different ways they
have been decorated and embellished to
become tools of propaganda, calls to action
and symbols of unity. The act of raising a
mug to the lips directly connects the user's
character and values to the sentiments
expressed on it. This is a selection of British
mugs designed with activism in mind.

Britain
Printed earthenware
Credit line
Given by Budget Furniture
Object history
Part of a large collection of mugs acquired in 1991. It aims to illustrate the various uses of the 'Mug as bearer of message' over the past decade.

Comic Relief was a large charity day organised by famous comedians, to support famine relief organisations.
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.166-1991

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Record createdFebruary 19, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O145567/mug-bonnet-tim/
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