Pottery Bears

This woodcut by Ulla Frisch is entitled, in her handwriting, “Pottery Bears” and is signed by her. Like a lot of her work it is undated, but probably dates from the 1970s. It is almost certainly inspired by 18th century pottery bear jugs in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. These have detachable heads that could be used as cups. Often they have collars and chains and may be holding a dog.

The picture below is of two Staffordshire bear jugs c. 1740-60 displayed in the Fitzwilliam Museum. The caption says “White stone-glazed stoneware with shredded clay fur and details in dark brown clay.”

Below is another bear jug on show in the Fitzwilliam Museum. The caption says “Bear jug Nottingham, c. 1750-1800 Salt- glazed stoneware with grog (ground up fired clay) fur.”

A blog by Caroline Murray talks about the Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection and suggests a connection with bears used for bear-baiting, which was popular in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

As well as the print, Ulla made a pottery bear, with a detachable head. But, as she liked bears, hers has no collar or chains but looks quite friendly.

All photos taken by and © Monica Frisch

Monica Frisch, August 2025