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 inspired by 18th century pottery bear jugs in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, which she sketched. 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.
The bear and the print are on display at Stapleford Granary until 25 August 2026. Click here for details.
All photos taken by and © Monica Frisch
Monica Frisch, August 2025