Antique Sunderland Lustreware Jug with Transfer Prints of Napoleon ‘The Governor of Europe, Stoped in his Career’ and 'Success to the Volunteers' c1900

Here on offer is a fine early 20th century, antique pink Sunderland Lustreware jug with black transfer prints of ‘The Governor of Europe, Stoped in his Career’ on one side that relates to Napoleon and 'Success to the Volunteers' on the other.

My understanding is these Sunderlandware jugs where actually produced between 1900 and 1920, using the early images from the 1800’s.

‘The Governor of Europe, Stoped in his Career’, is a caricature engraving, drawn by Charles Williams around 1803.

It depicts Napoleon, who stands across Europe, is shown in military uniform with a large bicorne hat recoiling in shock and dropping his sword, while John Bull (who stands astride the British Isles) brandishes the sword with which he has just cut off half of Napoleon’s left foot.

Napoleon exclaims, ‘Ah you tam John Bull!! You have spoil my Dance!! You have ruin all my Projets!!’, to which John replies, ‘I ax pardon Master Boney, but as we says Paws off Pompey, we keep this little spot to Ourselves you must not dance here Master Boney’.

The European countries shown under Napoleon’s domination are Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, and Holland, and the image reflects the recent expansion of the French Empire and the perceived fragility of the Peace of Amiens, which had been concluded in 1802 and would be ended by the outbreak of war in May 1803 – a month after this caricature was published.

The phrase ‘Paws off Pompey’ is probably a reference to Francis Coventry’s popular novel The History of Pompey the Little: or, The Life and Adventures of a Lap-Dog which was first published in London in 1751 and remained in print until 1820. This caricature was also transfer-printed onto earthenware mugs (see Clayton and O’Connell 56) and ceramic jugs, as with this example (see Clayton and O’Connell 57 and F. Freeth, ‘The English Potters and Napoleon Bonaparte’ in The Connoisseur 8 (January-April 1904), pp. 175-177, at p. 176).

The 'Success To The Volunteers" transfer depicts the words set inside a frame of fruiting grapevines and a barrel.

The jug itself has been displayed in a cabinet since it was made and comes in MINT condition. There is a just section of Napoleon’s left hand missing in the transfer image which is just a manufacturing fault, when the transfer was applied.

As with most of these jugs there is no maker’s mark or details on it.

It measures 5.25” (13.4cm) high by 7” (17.8cm) wide, including the handle and spout.

It weighs 477g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 51562