American Toby Jug Museum 

Portia toby jug in a blue and white colorway modeled by Ernest T. Bailey and produced by Burgess & Leigh of Burslem, England, circa 1985 using its Burleigh Ware tradename. Portia is a female protagonist in "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare. In creating her character, Shakespeare drew from the historical figure of Porcia, the daughter of Cato the Younger, as well as several parts of the Bible. Portia is fond of proverbs, frequently quoting them, which was considered a sign of wisdom and intellect in the Elizabethan era. Portia is a wealthy heiress in Belmont. She is bound by a lottery outlined in her father's will, which allows potential suitors to choose one of three caskets made of gold, silver, and lead, respectively. If they choose the correct casket containing Portia's portrait and a scroll, they win her hand in marriage. Portia is glad when two suitors, one driven by greed and another by vanity, fail to choose correctly. She favors Bassanio, a young but impoverished Venetian noble. A portion of Portia's robe drapes down to form the handle of the jug.