Frog mug
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A frog mug (also known as a toad mug, surprise mug or ague mug) is a type of ceramic cup mainly used for drinking beer or similar alcoholic beverages. They were first produced in Sunderland before being copied in such places as Staffordshire, Worcestershire[1] and Newcastle.[2] These mugs were part of the tradition of drinking games such as fuddling cups and puzzle jugs.[3] In this case the cups featured one or more painted or three-dimensional ceramic frogs or toads that slowly emerged at the bottom of the vessel as it was drained.[4]
Decoration
These practical joke mugs containing frogs or toads date from circa 1775 and continued to be popular until the end of the 19th century. An unsuspecting drinker would be surprised as he quaffed his beer to see a frog or toad emerging from the typically cloudy beverage of those days as it was fully consumed and the amphibian came into view, with predictable results. In some cases the creature would gurgle and spit at the drinker through a hole in its mouth as the vessel was tilted and the dregs consumed. Some larger examples had two[5] or three handles and might contain several frogs/toads.[6] Naval references are common on these mugs due to their common use in taverns frequented by sailors.[7]
Transfer-printed designs are often found on these mugs with patriotic sentiments, mottoes, proverbs, sayings, educational verses, pictorial images, etc. and some are inscribed with the names of individuals, suggesting that were sometimes given as a gift to mark a special occasion.[8] A number were produced to commemorate the Crimean war success or Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat.[9][10] Some mugs have raised designs featuring a wide range of subjects.[11]
Naval references are common on these mugs due to their common use in taverns frequented by sailors. This has led to the suggestions that in some instances anti-French sentiments were responsible for during the Trafalgar period sailors frequently referred to the French as 'Monsieur Johnny Crapaud' where 'Crapaud' in French means a toad.[12]
The verses below amply illustrate these attitudes:-
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"May England's oak, |
The mugs were sometimes smashed by the surprised victim of the prank and as a precaution an inscription on the mug warned against this:-
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"Tho' malt and venom, |
