Falcon Ware King Henry VIII Small Ceramic Character Jug c.1940s

This is a nice example of a ceramic character jug produced by Falcon Ware and dating to the 1940s.

The jug is moulded in the form of King Henry VIII; his facial features are moulded in relief. The hat is in typical Tudor style, with a large feather attached to the brim. His shoulders are clothed in robes, over which can be seen part of the Royal regalia. Below his collar, there is a stylised Tudor rose.

Unusually, the handle arises from the back of his head and curves down to join at the nape of the neck.

The base is broadly oval, with a steep recession to the centre. The central circular section is moulded with the words ‘HENRY VIII’ in relief, over which is transfer printed ‘FALCON WARE MADE IN ENGLAND A’. The letter ‘A’ was a Group Mark added to ceramic goods produced under wartime restrictions from 1942 to 1947.

It has a maximum height of approximately 10.5cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 270g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although there are some very fine cracks in the glaze on the inside of the jug, which do not extend into the body. These have probably occurred during the firing process and are considered manufacturing flaws. There is also some crazing to the glaze, which is commensurate with age.