American Toby Jug Museum 

Fagin character jug produced by Artone Pottery of Burslem, England, circa 1980. Fagin is the disreputable leader of a band of boy street urchins who steal for their master in Charles Dickens' novel, "Oliver Twist". He is the mentor of a group of children, the Artful Dodger among them, whom he teaches to make their living by pick-pocketing and other criminal activities. Bill Sykes, the major villain of the novel, is one of Fagin's older pupils. Dickens describes Fagin as "a crafty old Jew" who runs a school for thieves near Field Lane in Saffron Hill. Oliver falls in with Fagin's band when he runs away from the workhouse. When Fagin attempts to help Monks destroy Oliver's reputation, he is arrested and executed at Newgate. Fagin was based on the real-life Jewish fence and receiver of stolen property, Ikey Soloman (1758-1850). A treasure chest, watch and jewelry form the handle of the jug.