Super collection of character jugs and ceramics totals £4,310 at Lichfield auction

A who's who gallery of famous faces

A TAMWORTH man’s impressive collection of character jugs and other ceramics has netted £4,310 at auction in Lichfield.

Built over a quarter of a century, the collection was a who’s who of famous faces ranging from royalty and entertainment to historical figures and literary personalities beaming out from more than 300 jugs, with others depicting occupations from different walks of life.

Catalogued across more than 100 lots, the collection also included a number of Toby jugs and other ceramic figures.

Everything went under the hammer at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, on Monday, August 4.

Character jugs typically feature the subject’s head and shoulders, whereas a Toby jug depicts a seated figure’s whole body.

The collection ranged from the 19th to the 20th century with manufacturers and designers including Royal Doulton, Beswick, Burlington, Shorter and Son, Roy Kirkham, Tony Wood, Wood and Sons, Rockingham, Peggy Davies and Kevin Francis.

The collection was built by Tamworth man John Perryman, who passed away suddenly in February aged 79.

His son Matthew wanted the collection to go to auction so it could be offered to fellow enthusiasts.

Famous faces in the collection of character jugs included historical figures such as Charles I, Henry VIII and his six wives, Queen Victoria, Edward VII, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, Winston Churchill, Lord Admiral Nelson, Sir Francis Drake, Shakespeare, Guy Fawkes, Dick Whittington and Lewis Carroll, with numerous characters from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland.

Entertainment stars and musicians included Buddy Holly, Groucho Marx, Mae West, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Sir Edward Elgar and Tchaikovsky, with other jugs featuring popular figures such as Father Christmas, Quasimodo, Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, D’Artagnan and The Three Musketeers Porthos, Athos and Aramis, Desperate Dan, Dennis The Menace and Gnasher, Captain Hook, Neptune and Merlin plus Wild West legends Doc Holliday, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickock, Annie Oakley and Wyatt Earp.

Others celebrated walks of life with occupations such police, fire service and town criers.

To arrange a free valuation of all types of antiques and collectables, call 01543 251081 or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.

Pictured top of page: Richard Winterton with some of the collection of character jugs.