Lot #187: A collection of vintage miniature Toby jugs/ Shot glasses

This image features a collection of vintage miniature Toby jugs, also known as character jugs. These small ceramic pieces are typically hand-painted and depict whimsical caricatures of various people, often from history or literature. Identifying the Pieces The items in your collection are common collectible novelty items, with many similar examples manufactured in Japan during the mid-20th century. The Middle Piece: This specific miniature jug depicts a caricature of a Colonial man wearing a blue tricorn-style hat. Similar versions of this piece are often identified as vintage shot glasses or decorative knick-knacks. The Right Piece: This jug represents a woman, frequently identified in similar vintage sets as Sairey Gamp, a character from Charles Dickens' novel Martin Chuzzlewit. The Left Piece: This piece features a man with a mustache and a blue hat, a common variation in these novelty sets. Details and History Origin: While higher-end Toby jugs are famously produced by English companies like Royal Doulton and Lancaster & Sandland, these specific miniatures are frequently marked as "Made in Japan" or "Occupied Japan" (dating them to the late 1940s or early 1950s). Purpose: Beyond decoration, these miniatures were sometimes used as shot glasses, toothpick holders, or small creamers. Collectibility: Toby jugs were named after "Toby Fillpot," a character in an 18th-century song. They remain popular with collectors who enjoy their unusual and expressive faces. This lot of three miniature Toby Mug or shot glasses Pickup category timeslot {A}