American Toby Jug Museum 

Samurai Warrior character jug in a flambé finish designed by Amanda Hughes-Lubeck and produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, in a 2006 limited edition of 250. Samurai was the hereditary warrior class in feudal Japan. Originally Samurai referred only to the imperial guards, but over time came to mean the entire military, of which the warriors were a part. A code of unquestioning obedience and loyalty bound the samurai warriors to their lords. The samurai prized honor above wealth or life, and atoned for dishonor by committing hara-kiri, or ceremonial suicide. They wore two swords and a distinctive headdress. They lost their privileges when the Japanese abolished feudalism in 1871. The handle is a samurai sword.