American Toby Jug Museum 

Robinson Crusoe character jug modeled by Max Henk and produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, between 1960-1982. The prolific writer, Daniel Defoe, published over 250 works, yet is almost exclusively remembered for the 1719 adventurous tale of Robinson Crusoe. This famous eighteenth century novel is based in part on the true story of Alexander Selkirk. Selkirk joined the South Sea buccaneers in the late seventeenth century, but in 1704, on quarrelling with his captain, he requested to be put ashore on the uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez where he lived for almost five years until his rescue. Our fictional hero begins his adventure more dramatically. Shipwrecked, Crusoe is washed ashore on an imaginary island near Trinidad, and the story recounts vividly and realistically his struggle to survive on the island and cope with his loneliness. His solitude ends, however, when he rescues a native from a tribe of cannibals. "And first I let him know his name should be Friday which was the day I saved his life." The handle of this jug depicts Crusoe's Man Friday peering around from behind a palm tree. Along with this large size, a small size (D6539) and miniature size (D6546) were also produced.