American Toby Jug Museum 

Tom Bowling majolica toby jug produced by Charles Vyse in Chelsea England circa 1930. In Tobias Smollett's 1748 novel The Adventures of Roderick Random, Tom Bowling is Roderick's maternal uncle who is a sailor attempting to support Roderick between voyages. Tom Bowling is also the unfortunate subject of Charles Dibdin's 18th century folk song about a poor sailor who meets his untimely end while at sea. This pitcher is impressed "Tom Bowling" on the rear and "C. Vyse Chelsea" on the side. This jug shows Tom Bowling enjoying a game of lawn bowling. The jug comes with a bowler hat not shown here.