Nell Gwyn figural pitcher modeled by Ernest T. Bailey and produced by Burgess & Leigh of Burslem, England, circa 1955. Eleanor Gwyn (1650-1687) was an English stage actress and celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stage, she became best known for being a long-time mistress of King Charles II of England. Called "pretty, witty Nell" by Pepys, she has been regarded as a living embodiment of the spirit of Restoration England, and has come to be considered a folk heroine, with a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella. Gwyn had two sons by King Charles: Charles Beauclerk and James Beauclerk. King Charles hiding in an oak tree forms the handle of the jug.
Maker:
Burgess & Leigh
England
circa 1955
Model #:
Derivative
figural pitcher
Size:
large
Height:
7 3/4"