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Lot 58*

A rare and impressive Wood Family 'Prince Hal' Toby Jug, circa 1785

15 December 2020, 14:30 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £5,737.50 inc. premium

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A rare and impressive Wood Family 'Prince Hal' Toby Jug, circa 1785

Modelled as a portly figure seated on a rock, head turned and gazing up to his right, holding a sword across his chest in his right hand and an oval shield moulded with a lion inscribed 'IOHN OF GANT' [sic] in his left, wearing a brown doublet and green breeches, on a square base, 39cm high

Footnotes

Provenance
Bute Collection, Christie's sale, 8 July 1996, lot 51
James and Timmey Challenger Collection, Chicago

A similar jug with the shield resting at the figure's side from the Mackintosh Collection was sold by Sotheby's on 2 May 1967, lot 26. For another version see Captain R K Price, Astbury, Whieldon, and Ralph Wood Figures, and Toby Jugs (1922), pl.XLII, no.1. The identity of the figure has been much debated, with suggestions of Prince Hal or Falstaff from Shakespeare's Henry IV and V, or possibly King George IV when Prince of Wales, masquerading at a Brighton ball as King Hal (Henry VIII). Lord Mackintosh believed the model to be Sir Toby Belch from Twelfth Night.

Additional information

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