Ikey toby jug in yellow jacket produced in England circa 1870. Isaac "Ikey" Solomon (1787-1850) was a British criminal who acted as a receiver of stolen property. His well-publicized crimes, escape from arrest, recapture and trial led to his transportation to the Australian penal colony of Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania. He is widely regarded as the model for the character Fagin in Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist. Ikey peers with one sly little eye while the other is wide and alert. He is depicted in his finery with top hat, pearl cravat pin and astrakhan collar and sleeves. These would have been paid for from his ill-gotten gains from receiving stolen goods. He would have paid for the stolen goods with money from the bag that hangs from his neck with the words "I PAY OUT" painted on it. Ikey is incised on the front of the base of the jug and his scarf forms the handle of the jug.
Maker:
unknown
England
circa 1870
Model #:
toby jug
Size:
large
Height:
9 1/2"
