Mug, white earthenware with printed decoration and glazed, manufactured by Coloroll, Kilncraft, England, ca. 1984.

Mug of white earthenware with opaque white glaze, cylindrical with loop handle, printed with two images of Roland Rat in a star, with the caption “Roland Rat Superstar” in red, blue, grey and black.

Given by Jennifer Opie, Paul Greenhalgh and Oliver Watson

Purchased in Brick Lane Market, London, in January 1991, for about 50p.

Roland Rat first appeared on TVAM in 1983, and his popularity saved the company from bankruptcy. In 1984 the Roland Rat Merchandising Co. and the Roland Rat PR Co. were set up, owned by David Claridge, the inventor of the character. The BBC bought Roland Rat in 1985 where he had his own show. He hasn’t been seen on TV for over a year (as of Feb. 1991) and is ‘probably dead’

Part of a large collection of mugs acquired in 1991. This group [C.84 to 105-1991] were brought together from various sources and were presented by the donors - the Curator and Deputy Curators of the Ceramics and Glass Section. The collection aims to illustrate the various uses of the 'Mug as bearer of message' over the past decade.

C.99-1991