Jug in the Form of a Bear

The 18th century marked the beginning of English figure manufacture on a commercial scale. Made with molds, these forms could be reproduced at a reasonable cost, which attracted the middle class, the main patrons of earthen and stoneware objects. Familiar figures of both animals and humans, including men and women in everyday pursuits, appealed to conservative sensibilities. The charming figures of a cat, dog, lion, rabbit and owl in this case represent the English delight in ceramic animals made purely for decoration. Both domestic and foreign animals were popular subjects.