Gluggle mugs, with their distinctive fish shape, have become synonymous with Dartmouth pottery. Called ‘Gluggle’ because of its distinctive ‘glug glug’ sound when poured, they were originally made in Staffordshire in the 1870s. Thomas Forester & Sons designed the unusual shape of the fish along with other unique designs on pottery and vases, which are became popular household items.
Over time, the design of the mugs passed through various manufacturers, reaching Royal Winton Grimwade in the 1930s.
However, after World War II, wartime restrictions limited how much they could make with the materials they had. Demand was still high, so they needed to find a manufacturer that could supply them with what they needed. Dartmouth Pottery had recently opened and did not have the same restrictions that Royal Winton Grimwade was encumbered with. A society was created; Dartmouth Pottery would cast the jugs ready to be decorated by Royal Winton Grimwade.
For the next 20 years, Dartmouth Pottery became well associated with Gluggle Jugs, even manufacturing their own design called the Cod Fish Jug. However, this was generally viewed as a commercial failure due to the tail’s tendency to break. Despite this initial drawback, by 1958, Dartmouth Pottery was selling and marketing Gluggle Jugs as their own, under the slogan ‘A gurgling pitcher’. At this time, the Britannia Royal Naval College commissioned a pair of jugs to be made and presented to the Queen and Prince Philip. As such, they were in great demand and the jugs of various sizes and colors became collector’s items.
Dartmouth Pottery continued to successfully produce and sell the Gluggle jug, creating a longstanding association between this South Devon port and the unusual but charming fish-shaped jug. In keeping with their geographic connection, in later years Plymouth Gin commissioned the steins to advertise their drink.
In 2002, the Dartmouth Pottery closed and the manufacture of the jugs moved, more than 100 years after its creation, to its original home in Staffordshire. The pitchers are now produced by Wade Ceramics, many of which are exported to the US. Pitchers dating from earlier days, particularly those made by Thomas Forester & Sons in the late 19th century, are highly prized collector’s items. Many home and country stores stock Gluggle jugs, sometimes called Glug Glug jugs, if you were interested in purchasing them. They are not hard to find and add a unique touch to any home decor.