American Toby Jug Museum 

Jester toby jug produced by Bairstow Manor Pottery of Hanley, England, circa 1985. A jester, court jester, fool or joker, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain guests during the medieval and Renaissance eras. Jesters were also itinerant performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town markets, and the discipline continues into the modern day, where jesters perform at historical-themed events. Jesters entertain with a wide variety of skills: principal among them are song, music, and storytelling, but many also employ acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes, and performing magic tricks. This toby jug is a part of the Staffordshire Character Jugs Series.