American Toby Jug Museum 

Bootmaker character jug produced in Japan circa 1980. A bootmaker was a skilled artisan who made shoes and boots, mainly out of leather, but ladies' shoes were often of silk, satin and other textiles. A bootmaker would usually specialize in either men's shoes and boots, or ladies' shoes as the techniques differed. A boot form holding a boot being crafted forms the handle of the jug.