Royal Doulton Happy John Toby Jug D6031 Large 22cm High

ON AUCTION IS A LARGE 22CM HIGH ROYAL DOULTON HAPPY JOHN TOBY JUG D6031.

Happy John has a black hat; light green coat; yellow scarf with blue polka dots; orange breeches and holds a foaming beer mug in each hand.In Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, the character "Happy John" is actually John Wemmick. He is a complex character, serving as Mr. Jaggers's clerk and Pip's friend, while also maintaining a separate, "happy" life with his father and fiancée at his quirky home, the "Castle". 

THIS HAPPY JOHN CHARACTER JUG WAS DESIGNED BY HARRY FENTON. PART OF THE DICKENS SERIES: CHARLES DICKENS CHARACTERS, ISSUED 1940 1960.  IT WAS ISSUED BETWEEN 1939 AND 1991.

"Happy John" was a popular Royal Doulton Toby Jug designed by Harry Fenton, first issued in 1939. It depicts a jovial man, often with a light green coat, black tricorn hat, and a yellow scarf, holding a jug and tankard of ale. The jug is a classic example of a Toby Jug, known for its cheerful depiction of a heavy-set man enjoying a drink. 

THE JUG IS MODELED WITH A SEATED FIGURE, WEARING 18TH-CENTURY ATTIRE, INCLUDING A TRICORN HAT AND LONG COAT. THE TRICORN HAT MAY SERVE AS THE POURING SPOUT. 

Happy John came in different sizes (large, medium, and small) and with variations in color and details. This is the Large Size 22cm High.

ROYAL DOULTON BEGAN PRODUCING TOBY JUGS IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, WITH HAPPY JOHN BECOMING A SOUGHT-AFTER PIECE AMONG COLLECTORS. 

While often confused with Character Jugs (which are typically smaller and depict a head and shoulders), Toby Jugs are specifically known for their seated figures, often holding a mug or tankard of ale. 

HISTORY OF ROYAL DOULTON CHARACTER JUGS:
Royal Doulton is an English ceramic manufacturer that specialized in artistically styled, decorated ceramics and tableware. In 1889, Charles Noke joined the company. He later introduced Doulton Series Ware, plates, and other items with decorations based on characters from popular culture.
Royal Doulton have produced character jugs since the early 1930s, where a character jug features the head and shoulders of a figure whereas the older Toby jug produced since the 1860s display the entire body of a character.
In 1933, Charles Noke designed a series of character jugs based on famous figures from history or literature. Other artisans known to produce toby and character jugs for the Royal Doulton firm included Leslie Harradine, Harry Fenton and Max Henk among others. Toby jugs are modelled and then a mould is produced. The mould is filled with clay (typically earthenware), fired, painted, and glazed.
These jugs were so popular that they were produced until 1960 in 5 different sizes from large 7 inch (170mm) jugs to 5,25 inch (130mm) medium to 3,25 inch (80mm) small sizes and 2,25 inch (60mm) Miniature to tiny 1.5 inch (40mm) vessels. Production of these miniature and tiny mugs was discontinued in 1960 and they are sought-after today.

HARRY FENTON (1875-1953): Harry Fenton, Nokes assistant, adapted his impressionistic style and he designed many characters that had a more realistic than stylized appearance. Fenton was one of Doultons most prolific modelers having modelled 26 character jugs, 15 toby jugs a record not broken by another modeler until the 1990s.  Harry Fenton died in 1953.

SIZE: LARGE 22CM HIGH 15CM WIDE UP TO HANDLE EDGE

CONDITION: IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. NO CHIPS. NO CRACKS.

MARKINGS: THE DISTINGUISHABLE ROYAL DOULTON TRADEMARK GREEN BACKSTAMP LOGO WITH THE FAMOUS INTERLOCKING DS, THE CROWN, THE LION, AND THE ROUNDEL WITH TEXT MADE IN ENGLAND (AFTER 1922) ROYAL DOULTON ENGLAND. USED FROM 1920S ONWARDS. BETWEEN 1901 AND 1922 THIS BACKSTAMP WAS ALSO USED BUT HAD ONLY ENGLAND (NOT MADE IN ENGLAND) ON THE BACK.