American Toby Jug Museum 

The Mikado large size toby jug designed by Clarice Cliff and produced by Shorter & Son of Stoke-on-Trent, England, circa 1950. From the 1885 Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "The Mikado", The Mikaod is the emperor of Japan and the father of Nanki-Poo. The Mikado is the law. In fact, “When [his] majesty says, ‘Let a thing be done,’ it’s as good as done—practically it is done—because [his] majesty’s will is law.” "The Mikado", or "The Town of Titipu", is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations. It opened in London in March of 1885 where it ran at the Savoy Theatre for 672 performances, the second-longest run for any work of musical theater and one of the longest runs of any theater piece up to that time. With permission from D'Oyly Carte, Shorter modeled this series based on the actor and costumes from the operas and posing in scenes from the operas. A part of the Mikado's hat forms the handle of the jug. The small size Mikado toby jug stands 5" tall.