A reluctant sailor bids farewell to his wife and children in a sentimental harbor side scene. To the right a ship is poised to carry him to distant lands. His sorrowful feelings are expressed on the reverse side in a poem entitled "The Sailor's Tear."

Broad stokes of pink lustre provide the simplest and boldest of borders for the black transfer printed scene and verse.  The quality of printing, the light weight of the clay body, and careful attention to potting detail in the finish of the foot, rim and handle indicate a relatively early date in the production of these Victorian souvenir mugs.

The combination of  pink lustre with black transfer printing  is generally identified with the Sunderland area potters.   Both Sunderland and nearby Newcastle were port cities with economies based largely on shipbuilding and maritime commerce.  Naturally enough, many of the lustre wares produced by the local potteries carry verses and scenes pertaining to sailors and the sea.  The verses paid tribute to both their own native sons and the multiple nationalities which passed through the ports each year. These wares became familiar the world over as sailors would purchase them while in port and take them home to families and sweethearts.