American Toby Jug Museum 

Bottom candle snuffer produced by Royal Worcester of Worcester, England, in a 2002 limited edition of 100. Bottom is a popular character from William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1596). Probably created as a showcase for one of Shakespeare's favorite actors, Bottom's role involves dancing, singing, and laughter. From his first introduction, Bottom is presented as courageous and outgoing. He is confident in his ability to play any, even all, roles in "Pyramus and Thisbe." For example, he says his performance of Pyramus will cause the audience to cry a storm load of tears . As the audience realizes, this confidence is misplaced, and Bottom is little more than a swaggering fool — indeed, an ass, as Puck's prank makes apparent.