Posted on: Saturday, November 23, 2002
WHAT'S IT WORTH?
Character jug memorializes Battle of the Little Big Horn
By Leslie Hindman
Q.I have a Royal Doulton character jug that depicts George Armstrong Custer on one side and Sitting Bull on the other. This mug is marked number 6,613 out of an edition of 9,500. Can you tell me what it's worth?
— Bruce Smith, Dryden, Mich.
A. The Royal Doulton Co. produced this limited-edition ceramic jug in 1984. It comes from a series called "The Antagonists" and memorializes the1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn in which Custer and his troops were annihilated by Sitting Bull and an army of Sioux.
The company introduced character jugs in 1933. Over the years, a number of materials and kilns have been used.
In the 1950s, the handles of Royal Doulton character jugs became notably elaborate. This integral part of the design is apparent in your mug, since the side that features Sitting Bull has a hatchet and Custer's side has a pistol.
The character jug traces its beginnings back to a little jug known as the Toby. Factories in England made and shipped them to the American colonies in the 18th century. The jug was named for Toby Philpots, a character in a popular song called "The Little Brown Jug." The jugs depicted the full figure of a cheerful man, usually holding a jug of beer. The genre was so popular that eventually such historical figures as Napoleon and Benjamin Franklin were portrayed on jugs.
Character jugs differ from Toby jugs in that they are limited to bust portraits instead of displaying the entire figure.
Limited-edition character jugs are more valuable than those made in unrestricted numbers. And since each object is crafted by an artisan before leaving the Royal Doulton factory, later wares from the 1970s and 1980s nicely hold their value. This character jug, which has particular appeal for American collectors, is worth $180 to $260.
Q. I have two silver candlesticks that I'm interested in learning about. What can you tell me about the pair?
— Shirley Elboom, Skokie, Ill.
A. The earliest form of candlestick was called a pricket, since it had a sharp spike upon which the candle would be affixed.
The candlestick with a socket, the type that's most familiar to us today, appeared in the 16th century. In the following centuries, candlestick design mirrored furniture design to appeal to the prevailing tastes of the day.
By the end of the Victorian era, candlesticks became less elaborate as more households switched to lamps.
Your candlesticks date from the early 20th century.
The wonderful thing about candlesticks is that they always have a use and look elegant on any dining room table.
Polish them occasionally, but don't use a polish that is abrasive. This delightful pair is worth $80 to $130.
Leslie Hindman is the author of "Adventures at the Auction.
She welcomes letters but cannot reply individually. Send photos of object (sorry, they can't be returned) with identifying marks visible, a brief history and your daytime phone number to: What's It Worth?, Island Life, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802.
