American Toby Jug Museum 

Sir John Falstaff large toby jug version 1 designed by Harry Fenton and produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, in 1939. First appearing in Shakespeare's "Henry IV Part I", produced around 1597, Sir John Falstaff is a fat, witty knight whose good humor and love of life enable him to see the world and himself as an object for ridicule and laughter. A braggart and rogue with enough resource to save face after various riotous exploits with his companions the Prince of Wales, Poins, Bardolph and Peto, he exaggerates his vices in order to expose their humorous side. He would like to see himself as an innocent man in a world of villains, but more objectively has to admit that he has "more flesh than another man; and therefore, more frailty." Originally called Oldcastle, the character was renamed after an objection from Lord Cobham, a descendent of the original Sir John Oldcastle. Although he dies at the end of "Henry IV", Falstaff reappeared by royal command in Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" where Queen Elizabeth wished to see the roguish knight in love. Written, so it is said, within a fortnight, he cuts a sorry figure here in comparison to the jesting, self-indulgent character from "Henry IV". This first version of the Falstaff toby jug had his right arm extended such that it created difficulties in production. The jug was remodeled creating the second Falstaff version. The number 8328 is impressed on the bottom of the jug.