Vintage Arthur Wood Jack and the Beanstalk Figural Jug – Staffordshire c.1930s

This is Arthur Wood, and the subject is Jack and the Beanstalk. Arthur Wood Jack and the Beanstalk jug with the giant forming the handle.

I believe this may be very rare. There are examples of other folk stories, like Three Little Pigs, etc., but I can't find another Jack and the Beanstalk example.

Arthur Wood & Son operated from the Bradwell Works at Longport, Stoke-on-Trent. Arthur Wood’s son Gerald joined the business in 1924, and in 1928 the firm became Arthur Wood & Son (Longport) Ltd. Period marks include the “Quality Arthur Wood England” mark introduced from around 1934.

This has especially attractive colour and displays very well. Taking the extensive crazing and small areas of wear into account, I believe I have priced sensibly for a large hand painted jug? ( Clarice cliff / moor croft etc would be hundreds)

20 cm tall

14 cm round at base

Vintage Arthur Wood Jack and the Beanstalk Figural Jug – Staffordshire c.1930s

A wonderfully quirky Arthur Wood pottery jug depicting Jack and the Beanstalk, produced in Staffordshire and dating to around the 1930s.

This fabulous piece brings the familiar English fairy tale to life in colourful, characterful pottery. Jack is shown standing beneath the enormous beanstalk accompanied by farmyard animals, while the towering giant forms the wonderfully sculptural handle of the jug, peering around the side in his brightly painted yellow tunic, green trousers and red collar.

The cream glazed body is decorated with hand-painted grasses, foliage, flowers and bold orange, blue and pink details, while the interior is finished in a rich yellow glaze with a blue-edged rim. The deliberately naïve modelling and painting give it enormous period charm.

Maker History

Arthur Wood was part of the celebrated Staffordshire pottery industry, operating from the Bradwell Works at Longport, Stoke-on-Trent.

Arthur Wood had been involved with the works from the late 19th century, with his son Gerald joining the business in 1924. In 1928 the company became Arthur Wood & Son (Longport) Ltd, producing a broad range of decorative and domestic earthenwares.

During the 1930s and 1940s Arthur Wood expanded considerably, acquiring several other Staffordshire pottery concerns. The company became particularly well known for colourful decorative wares, novelty pieces and characterful jugs such as this charming Jack and the Beanstalk example.

Condition

A genuine vintage example with considerable age-related glaze crazing throughout, which is particularly noticeable across the cream ground. There are also small areas of glaze and painted decoration loss and minor wear around the rim and base consistent with age and use.

The manufacturer's mark beneath is heavily worn but remains partially visible.

Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.

A wonderfully eccentric piece of 1930s Staffordshire pottery and a particularly appealing Arthur Wood design. Perfect for collectors of vintage character jugs, fairy-tale pottery, English ceramics or simply anyone who likes something a little unusual.