"Toby Jugs From A Chief's Tomb, Congo."
A Toby Jug, also called a Fillpot (or Philpot), is an earthenware jug in the shape of a seated person, or the head of a recognizable person. Typical is the seated figure of a burly, jovial man holding a mug of beer in one hand. They are often painted in different ways. The first examples date from the end of the 18th century. These date from around 1800. In one of the jars is a note on which the provenance is described. They were found in the Belgian Congo and adorned the tomb of a chief there. But they were once taken to Africa by the English. No restoration, one is in good condition, the other lacks a little paint Height; 24.5cm