It's an early example of a Toby Jug, proably more of a decorative piece than a functional item. The original Toby Jugs were produced by the Staffordshire potters in the 1760s.

The American Toby Jug Museum, 910 Chicago Ave., has announced that it will be closing after over 25 years on April 1. The museum houses over 8,000 Toby ...