American Toby Jug Museum 

Merlin character jug produced by Peggy Davies Ceramics of Stoke-on-Trent, England, circa 1986 using its Prestige Jugs tradename. The enchanter of Arthurian romance, Merlin was likely based on a Welsh bard of the sixth century named Myrddin. Geoffrey of Monmouth transformed Myrddin into Merlin, the magician, trusted counselor of King Arthur. In the "History of the Kings of Britain", Geoffrey tells how Merlin prophesied that the British, led by King Arthur, would defeat the Saxons. The wizard is later described bringing Stonehenge from Ireland and erecting it on Salisbury Plain and also arranging the conception of Arthur. Although the Arthurian Romances cast Merlin as Arthur's mentor throughout his reign, in the original legends he disappears soon after Arthur's coronation. In Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" he is deceived by the Lady of the Lake who tricks him into divulging his magic and then uses his spells to imprison him forever in an oak tree. Merlin's left hand and staff form the handle of this jug.