One of the finest mugs which has come under my notice—and indeed, I believe, the finest known example—is in the possession of Mr. E. M. Kidd, of Nottingham, who is also the fortunate possessor of a fine collection of English china. It is engraved on Figs. [813 and 814]. In front is a full-blown rose on a stem, surmounted by a crown, and there are two other crowns, one on either side, a little lower down, between what are evidently intended for thistles; there is also a terminal rose at each end, and the remainder of the body is ornamented with their stems and foliage. At the back, by the handle, are the words
| John | Nottingham |
| Johnson | Sept. ye 3 |
| Schoolmaster | 1762 |
This inscription is, as usual, in ordinary writing letters, incised, or scratched, into the soft clay. On the bottom, in the same kind of incised writing letters, is the maker’s name, Wm Lockett. This is highly interesting, as he, William Lockett, is one of the makers included in the foregoing lists of voters in 1774 and 1780. The name stands thus in the 1774 list:—“Lockett William, pot-maker, New buildings” (in 1780 he was of St. Ann’s Street), and he appears to have given a plumper for the Hon. William Howe, of Epperstone. In the same list is a Henry Lockett, saddler, Smithy row, who voted in the same manner. In the same list the name of the school-master, for whom this special mug was made also occurs, but he voted for Lord Edward Bentinck, and Sir Charles Sedley, of Nutthall, Bart. The name stands thus:—“Johnson John, school-master, St. Mary’s Church side.”
Thus a record occurs both of the maker and the owner of this curious mug, of which Mr. Kidd is the fortunate possessor.
A jug formerly belonging to Mr. Norman has the inscription, incised in writing letters, as follows:—
“John Smith junr of Bassford near
Nottingham 1712”
In the Museum of Practical Geology is a “christening bowl,” thirteen inches in diameter bearing the incised words, in writing letters, “Nouember 20 1726;” a punch-bowl, twenty-two inches in diameter, with the words “Old England for Ever, 1750;” and a highly interesting mug “in brown earthenware with glaze of metallic lustre, ornamented with stamped flowers laid on in relief, and incised inscription in cursive characters, round the rim, ‘Made at Nottingham ye 17th Day of August A.D. 1771.’”
Fig. 815.
Another good, dated example, brought under my notice by Mr. Briscoe, bears the names of “Thos. and Mary Brammer, May ye 21 1753.” In the collection formerly belonging to Mr. Hawkins was “a neatly formed puzzle jug, of lustrous glaze, ornamented with a vase of pinks [these flowers being most generally used in the ornamentation of the Nottingham Pottery] and scrolls around the lower part, the flowers being a dark red colour; on the front is the date 1755, underneath the bottom, the initials, ‘G. B.’” In the same collection was “a tobacco jar, in form of a bear, of bright lustrous glaze, his head being the cover, a collar round his neck, and a chain, to which is attached a large hollow ball, containing stones and holes, used as a rattle; on the ball is impressed the name “Elizabeth Clark, Decr ye 25th 1769.”