Description
Antique Scottish pottery figure in the form of a jug depicting the Russian Bear giving Napoleon a rather amorous hug. The figure of the bear is gotesquely depicted with glaring red eyes and mouth ajar exposing a fine set of teeth and a large tongue.The glaze is thickly applied which adds to the impact of the jug.
Napoleon is held in the bears tight grasp with an open mouth which has ingenuously and humorously formed as the spout of the pitcher.
The head of the bear form the cover for the figure.
Such a piece would have caused much merriment in the homes and taverns of the day and is commentary to the defeat and humilaition of the French Emperor at the hands of the Russians whom he hoped to conquer.
This strong imposing and very rare figure/pitcher piece is a wonderful item of folk art and the beast is now rendered as a fascinating object of humour and social commentary of the time.