18th-century John Wilkes jug in ceramics sale

A rare late 18th-century creamware jug featuring a portrait of the notorious radical politician, journalist and rake John Wilkes (1725-1798), is set to be auctioned this month.

Produced during Wilkes’ own lifetime, the jug is a historic souvenir of a man that changed both journalism and politics via radical means, causing scandal along the way. He did however cause change and was key in shaping modern British democracy.

A pivotal figure in 18th-century Britain, Wilkes put up a relentless fight for civil liberties. He became a symbol of defiance and reform in parliament, choosing to publish statements on topics discussed in parliament, as he believed the public should be informed, which had never been done before. He sought to expose the ‘corruption of the ruling elite’ and championed freedom of the press. In issue 45 of his publication The North Briton, Wilkes’ attack on George III’s 1763 speech endorsing the Paris Peace Treaty earned him a warrant for his arrest for libel. However, he had garnered strong public support and was later cleared by the Lord Chief Justice.

Wilkes earned the label of a ‘rake’ due to his scandalous personal life, which included extra-marital affairs, alongside his heavy drinking, and gambling, which clashed with 18th-century social norms. Despite his reckless behaviour, he became respected for his political activism, defending civil liberties and opposing government corruption.

The barrel-shaped jug was produced in creamware, a type of cream-coloured earthenware pottery made in Staffordshire, England, a major centre of pottery production in the 18th century. It presents a portrait of Wilkes in black and red, which captures both his character and revolutionary spirit during a time of political upheaval. The jug will be offered in Woolley & Wallis’ British and Continental Ceramics sale on April 29 is estimated to £800-1,000.

Clare Durham, Ceramics specialist at Woolley and Wallis, said: “Wilkes was a popular figure among political rebels and known for his ready wit. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was common for potters to commemorate significant political, military or royal figures, much as souvenir plates and mugs are still made today. Many of these earlier pieces are highly collectable today and have been known to fetch considerable sums at auction.”