top of page
Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960

Merlin character jug colorway with a green cap produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, in 1960. 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 familiar, an owl, forms the handle of this jug.

Maker:

Royal Doulton

England

1960

Model #:

D6529

Characters From Literature Collection

character jug

Size:

large

Height:

7 1/4"

Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960
Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960
Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960
Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960
Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960
Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960
Merlin character jug green cap colorway - Royal Doulton 1960
bottom of page