American Toby Jug Museum 

Elgar character jug modeled by Stanley J. Taylor and produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, between 1998-2001. Edward William Elgar (1857-1934) is arguably the greatest English composer. He is best known for his set of five marches collectively titled Pomp & Circumstance (1901-30). Chief among these is the first, "Land of Hope and Glory", familiar for its role in graduations and other celebratory events. For many years he contended with apathy, the prejudices of the entrenched musical establishment, and with a late Victorian provincial society where class-consciousness pervaded everything. His first big success came with the "Enigma Variations" in 1899. This work showed that Elgar had surpassed the other leading English composers of his day, both in technical accomplishment and sheer force of musical personality. His greatest masterpiece is the oratorio, "The Dream of Gerontius", which debuted in 1900. He adopted the theme of his first Pomp & Circumstance as the official ode for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. Organ pipes with a "Land of Hope and Glory" banner form the handle of the jug.