AN IRISH "SUCCESS TO THE VOLUNTEERS" CREAMWARE TRANSFER PRINTED JUG, c.1780, printed in iron-red, the inscription "Success to the Volunteers" to one side and contained within a wreath of...

AN IRISH "SUCCESS TO THE VOLUNTEERS" CREAMWARE TRANSFER PRINTED JUG, c.1780, printed in iron-red, the inscription "Success to the Volunteers" to one side and contained within a wreath of fruiting vines surmounted by a barrel, the opposing side depicting the British national personification John Bull defending his territory from the "Master Boney", the British satirical reference to Napoleon Bonaparte, the caption below the scene reads: "The Governor of Europe Stoped in His Career". 14cm high, 15cm wide over handle and spout

The Independent Volunteer Companies were formed across Ireland towards the end of the 18th century to protect the country from the threat of French and Spanish invasion. These creamware jugs were made in order to raise funds for the Companies. This particular example is thought to have come from a member of the Raphoe Volunteer Corps in Co. Donegal as it was allegedly later in the Donegal militia's officers' mess. On the occasion of the disbandment of this militia at the beginning of the 20th century, it was given as a memento to one of the officers and has been in the possession of his family by descent to the present day.

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