{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-staffordshire-frog-mug-large-2-pint-surprise-mug-sailor-s-tavern-mug-with-hidden-frog","title":"Antique 19th Century Staffordshire Frog Mug, Large 2 Pint Surprise Mug, Sailor’s Tavern Mug with Hidden Frog","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA large antique Staffordshire “frog mug” or “surprise mug”, dating to the nineteenth century and holding a generous two pints. This is a genuine example of one of the most charming oddities of English provincial pottery: a drinking mug that conceals one or more sculpted ceramic frogs inside, designed to surprise the drinker as the liquid level drops.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe exterior is hand-painted in the naive, brightly coloured style typical of Staffordshire pottery of this period, depicting a folk-art scene of three figures in pink, blue, and green coats gathered around what appears to be a tailoring or shoemaking scene, complete with a ladder, scissors, and scattered shoes. The piece is finished with twin orange line borders around the base and rim, and the handle is decorated with a leaf and dot motif. The glaze shows the fine, even crazing expected of period creamware, along with light wear consistent with genuine age and use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInside, lurking at the bottom of the mug, is a sculpted frog figure with a spotted body and an open mouth, designed to give an unsuspecting drinker a start as they reached the last of their drink. Frog mugs and surprise mugs of this type were a popular novelty in eighteenth and nineteenth century England, traditionally associated with tavern drinking games and said to have been a favourite leaving gift for sailors heading off on a long voyage, the idea being that the frog would keep them company, or give them a fright, far from home.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGood antique condition for age. Fine all-over crazing to the glaze, as expected of period creamware. Light wear to the painted decoration and minor surface marks consistent with genuine nineteenth century use. The frog figure inside is intact. No restoration noted.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCapacity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2 pints\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrice: £40\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"windsorvintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58165072167286,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0603\/2834\/5765\/files\/CEDF3274-81B4-42EA-AB68-422B8A25641F.jpg?v=1782565179","url":"https:\/\/windsor-vintage.co.uk\/products\/antique-19th-century-staffordshire-frog-mug-large-2-pint-surprise-mug-sailor-s-tavern-mug-with-hidden-frog","provider":"windsorvintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}