A rare 'Cakes and Ale' Toby Jug, circa 1790A rare 'Cakes and Ale' Toby Jug, circa 1790Probably Portuguese and decorated in Pratt type colouring, modelled as a gentleman seated on a square base with his right arm raised and a cake held in his left hand, a comical dog squeezing between his legs to reach the cake, the handle formed from a rustic branch, wearing a bright yellow coat, blue breeches and a brown tricorn hat, 25.6cm highProvenanceJames and Timmey Challenger Collection, ChicagoThis rare jug is discussed by Vic Schuler, Collecting British Toby Jugs (third edition, 1999), p.29. The model was presumed to have been based on Sir Toby Belch from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night who states 'Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?' (Act 2, Scene 3, 114-124). Another example was sold by Bonhams on 26 June 2005, lot 61.