American Toby Jug Museum 

The Falconer character jug modeled by Max Henk and produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, between 1960-1991. Falconry is the sport of hunting birds or small animals with falcons or other types of hawks. The falconer is a highly skilled bird-handler who trains a young falcon just out of the nest to fly when released from its trainer's wrist, killing its quarry but leaving its prey untouched. In England, from the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 up to the seventeenth century, kings, princes, lords and ladies took part in the chase. Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and James I were especially enthusiastic about the sport. In Norman times only those of high rank were allowed to keep falcons; the privilege was extended to all freemen during the reign of King John. Its popularity has declined today in Europe, but the sport is still widely practiced in Arabia, Persia, India and China. A falcon forms the handle of the jug. The Falconer character jug was made in three sizes with this being the largest along with small (D6540) and miniature (D6547) sizes.