American Toby Jug Museum 

Falstaff character jug produced by J. Fryer Limited of Tunstall, England, circa 1970 using its Oldcourt Ware tradename. Appearing first in Shakespeare's "Henry IV Part I", (1597), Sir John Falstaff is a fat, witty knight whose good humor and love of life enable him to see the world and himself as an object of ridicule and laughter. A braggart and rogue with enough resource to save face after various riotous exploits with his companions, including the young Prince Hal, Falstaff exaggerates his vices in order to expose their humorous side. Objectively, he has to admit that he has "more flesh than another man; and therefore more frailty." Originally called Oldcastle, the character was renamed after an objection from Lord Cobham, a descendent of the original Sir John Oldcastle. Although he dies at the end of "Henry IV", Falstaff reappeared by royal command in Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" where Queen Elizabeth wished to see the roguish knight in love.