the new emotional blackmailer's handbook

The little ports of Bideford and Barnstaple, and the village of Fremington between them, are just fifty miles across the water from Tenby. There would have been days when Tenby people might see the smoke rising from Bideford's kilns. There would have been trade between them in the old days. This old Harvest Jug comes up for auction shortly and my curiosity about the makers enabled me to assemble enough scrapbook stuff to post something every day through January …

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-an-english-sgraffito-slipware-dated-and-inscribed-6303504/?from=salesummary&intObjectID=6303504&lid=1

An inscription on the back reads:

'Despise me not/because I'm small/but fill me often/till please you/all/Ann Perkin/1807'

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6303505

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1996-1102-1

there is an inscription ...

When I was in my native Place,

I was a lump of Clay,

and Diged was out of the Earth

and Brought from thence a Way,

but now I am a Jugg became,

by Potters Art and Skiel,

and now your Servant am Become,

and carry alle I will.

Made by Jo(hn) PH(illips) Pott. 1780.

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/image/media-187340

https://feast-and-fast.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/creative/blackie-harvest-jug

This inscription written around this jug’s “shoulder” is …

'Now i am come for to supply

your workmen when in harvist dry

when they do labour hard and sweat

good drink is better far than meat.

In winter time when it is cold

i likewayes then good ale can hold

All seasons do the same require

and most men so strong drink desire'.

https://www.rare-ceramics.com/stock/english-pottery/a-small-devon-slipware-dated-harvest-jug/

“The sacred gift of friendship take

and keep it for the giver’s sake

1788/1788”

https://www.antiquepottery.co.uk/devon-pottery-harvest-jug-named-and-dated-for-ann-edwards-1803/

The handle has a beautiful coiled terminal under which is a heart-shaped cartouche with the name “ANN EDWARDS May 19 1803 Langendairn”, and the verse,

“When this you see, remember me, tho many miles distant be.”

https://www.bada.org/object/slipware-pottery-harvest-jug-made-george-fishley-fremington-devon-pottery

made by George Fishley at the Fremington Pottery, 1810 to 1820-ish

Beware as the Potter

Said to the lump of Clay

I’ll be burnt first

Saucily responded the Mud

https://www.antiquepottery.co.uk/devon-pottery-cider-or-harvest-jug-dated-1845-and-named-john-can/

Long may we be happy

May we be blest with

Content and from

Misfortune free

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15271/lot/69/

'Come fill me full with Liquor sweet,

for that is good when friend do meet,

but pray take care dont let me fall

lest you lost your liquor jug and all.

Catherine Lewis Aberystwith Cardiganshire 1812'

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5323661

The Potter fashioned me complete

As plainly doth appear

For to supply the Harvest Men

With good strong English beer

Drink round my jolly reapers

And when the work is done

We’ll have the other jugg my boys

And sing a merry song.

https://www.antiquepottery.co.uk/north-devon-earthenware-slip-scraffito-decorated-pottery-harvest-jug-circa-1850-period/

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-a-north-devon-sgraffito-slipware-inscribed-and-5581161/

Come Fill me Full With Liqour Sweet

For that is Good When Friends do meet

But pray Take Care Don't Let me Fall

Least you Lost your Liquor Jugg and all

William Botwood was Born the 9th (?) November/1835

https://rammcollections.org.uk/object/100-1930/

He that by the plough would thrive

Himself must either hold or drive

https://rammcollections.org.uk/object/233-1978/

M P M / 1703; the fearful hare doth run a pace

because the honds are on thare chace :

the countrey hee is forst to fly :

whilst thy are out with hue and cry :

nature hath taught him in this strife

to seeke for to presarve his life

which hee by running doth obtaine

and then the hounds returne a gaine

the huntsmen seing that doth cry :

lett him goe his meat is dry :

ile to my landladay with speed

for I have greater need.

https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/collections/getrecord/CFPOT_1950_P_332

The tulip and the butterfly

Appears in gayer coats than I

Let me be drest fine has I will

Flies worms and flowers exceed me still

Robert Fishley Maker Fremington 1834

Long may you live

Happy may you be

Blest with content

And from misfortune

Free

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-a-north-devon-slipware-inscribed-and-dated-6250621/

"The larger monsters of the deep

on the command attendance keep

by thy commison sport and play

and cleave along the foming way

if god his choice of tempest rears

Leviathan lyes still and fears

W M Langdon 1757"

https://www.rare-ceramics.com/past-sales/a-west-country-harvest-jug-barnstaple-or-fremington-devon/

“Now is the time the Reepers Sweat,

the Corn is Ripe and must Be Cut,

then fill me full with Good Strong Bear

for that is Good your harts to Chare…

John Briant 1771”

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/205100

When I was in my Native Place I was a Lump of clay,

and Diged was out of the Earth, and Brought from thence a Way,

but now I am a Jugg Became, by Potters art and Skeel,

and now your Servant am became, and carry alle I will

Robt. Burnal Cutcombe Ashel 1781

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23614/lot/257/

'Over the raging seas I am Bound

wear waves and Billows too me Round

Fill me Full with Liquour sweet

For that is good when Friends Do meet',

'Elizabeth Evens, august the 22, 1804'

https://www.bada.org/object/antique-slipware-pitcher-fishleys-fremington-named-and-dated

the potter ... edwin beer fishley

Good luck to the hoof & the horn

Good luck to the flock & the fleece

Good luck to the growers of corn

May we always have plenty of peace

Success to the farmer

The plough and the flail

May the landlord ever florish

And the tenant never fail

the compass pattern would have been significant to local people because barnstaple and bideford were seafaring ports with many distant trade connections

a particularly old and battered harvest jug from the british museum ...

Lo i unto your house am sent as a token from a frind

When your harvest folks are dry then I will them attend

1708 It is cupids dart wounded my heart

Cider making in Devon dates back to at least the 13th century and until about 100 years ago, almost every farm in Devon would have its own orchard and make its own cider. The rural labouring population drank a lot of cider and labourer's wages were even part paid in this drink, sometimes as much as one-fifth of their total income! As well as everyday vessels for pouring and drinking cider, North Devon potters developed harvest jugs and puzzle jugs to aid the celebrations at harvest time.

https://www.1stdibs.co.uk/furniture/dining-entertaining/ceramics/edwin-beer-fishley-fremington-slipware-nautical-jug-19th-century/id-f_8799853/

A rare Fremington pottery Nautical slipware jug of ovoid form with an applied scroll handle, incised and slip decorated in yellow with a galleon in full sail, compass, sun motif, floral designs, birds in flight and other designs on a natural glazed ground.

Incised to the base E B Fishley Fremington, North Devon.

Provenance: From the private collection of Marianne Straub OBE, textile designer 1909-1992.

https://www.antiquepottery.co.uk/devon-pottery-slipware-cider-jug-scrafitto-and-leaf-decoration-circa-1840-george-fishley-of-fremington/

Home thou loved spot, the blest retreat is

From which I seldom wish to roam

If e’er true love and friendship meet

‘Tis only round thy fireside, Home !

Harvest jug by Edwin Fishley of Fremington ... the design and inscriptions country pots are inextricably joined with country culture … of which huntin’n’shootin was a central activity back in the middle of the nineteenth century ...

Harvest is come all Busy now

in making of the Barley mow

if you the Barley mow neglect

of Good ale you can not then expect.

August 1838 John Prouse Hartland.

The Virginia Connection … slipware pottery from North Devon was traded to Virginia back in the late 1600s. A number of broken pieces of a later period were dug up at Jamestown and restored … this jug from 1764 …

http://www.chipstone.org/images.php/35/Ceramics-in-America-2002/Scratched-in-Clay:-Seventeenth-Century-North-Devon-Slipware-at-Jamestown,-Virginia-

https://emuseum.history.org/objects/18916/harvest-jug

Made for Mrs. Hugs by Jos Hollamore Barnstaple June ye 27, 1764

Now I am Com for to Supply the Harvis men when they are Dray

When they do labour heard and sweat Good league is better far than Meat

I by my Master heare am Sent to make You merrey is My Intent

I like bright Phebeous Do apeare When my bleys full with good Strong Beer.

My Joley hearts Com Drink About And Never Start till all is Out

Harry Juniper is a prolific Devon potter who has extended the harvest jug’s themes and subjects into modern times to match the changing aspirations of his commissioning customers …

https://anewenglandcargo.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/harry-juniper-and-the-historic-and-contemporary-live-pottery-profession-of-notrth-devon/

Doug Fitch, although moved away from Devon to Scotland now, is very well known for exquisitely crafting harvest jugs in just the right traditional North Devon style

http://slipware.blogspot.com/2009/09/harvest-jug.html

http://slipware.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-love-jug.html

Vicky Lindo’s “Dead Dad Jug” … Vicky works in Bideford with her partner Bill Brookes although her family origins were far away. Much of their work is derived from classical forms and imagery but these forms are clearly derived from the traditional local harvest jug. The strongly emotional narrative, derived from her family’s sad history, is to be treasured. I wish there was a photograph of these jug’s other sides …

https://www.facebook.com/vickylindoceramics/posts/dead-dad-book-shown-as-part-of-the-award-exhibition-british-ceramics-biennial1-j/1426112414193441/

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/project-grants-case-studies/closer-look-dead-dad-book-vicky-lindo

“Not my cup of tea”, but very good work … and a clever piece of cultural mis-appropriation … Simon Bayliss’ “Queer” Harvest Jug

Simon Bayliss’ Harvest poem

Men of RAF and Navy,
bold and hench and daring come,
come and taste our fancy gravy,
lovers welcome gobblers come.
Time for all things! This for leisure.
Time for new things! That for pleasure.
Hum our fruity cherry tune.

High and low with one another,
young and young may join us come,
spoon to spoon on cock a rubber,
now your pubic hair-day come.
Well it is that fruity bubbles,
fully topped should get more cuddles,
on a guilty cherry tone.

And a late-comer, in a display at the University in Aberystwyth, July 2023 ...