A steely-eyed gamesmen, trusty hound at his heels takes aim with his long gun in the reali...

A steely-eyed gamesmen, trusty hound at his heels takes aim with his long gun in the realistic depiction that strongly dominates this pear shaped molded stoneware jug. If our eyes follow the trajectory of the gun around the jug we find what is perhaps his targets--pheasants resting in a a multi-branched tree--though one must note that the fanciful style of this scene contrasts with the realism of the front view. That said, the concept of the pheasant and tree tableau is found among earlier hand painted patterns on English porcelain, possibly derived from Chinese wares.  

Once again we have corroboration of the truism: The way British potters dealt with competi...

Once again we have corroboration of the truism: The way British potters dealt with competition was to copy it." Jugs with similar compositions of the gunsman and hound  were registered  under the name "Ranger" by Walley and Boote in 1845 and by Alcock in 1847. Similarly  themed motifs can be found on the early nineteenth sprigged stoneware jugs of Turner and Hollins. The highly original pheasant design on the reverse, however, appears to be unique to this version by a as yet unknown potter. (Illustrateed Henrywood. Relief Moulded Jugs 1820-1900, p.225.)