“…Or was it made to preserve all her children?” – Gerrard Winstanley, Founder of the True Levellers (the "Diggers"), 1649.
As gifts, tea towels from the Radical Tea Towel Company are hard to beat for politicos. Apart from the blatantly socialist quotes, there are plenty which few could argue with – from Rosa Parks, Desmond Tutu, Oscar Wilde and the like.
What would Winstanley make of his words being put on a tea towel? I suspect he would be appalled that tea towels are still often wielded by women in service of men - levelling of humanity has not progressed much since 1649. You can even get the same quote on a pinny – the ultimate symbol of women kept in the kitchen.
In the scrabble of gift-buying this year, it occurred to me that a Conservative Leader Toby Jug might make a hilarious Secret Santa: I had seen them featured on TV during Conservative Party Conference.
Toby jugs must surely embody the spirit of the old fogey: fusty old ornaments found only on the most unreconstructed mantel pieces. Churchill toby jugs were made in abundance after the war, and are the only antique sort still collected with any stirring of enthusiasm.
As well as a new Churchill edition, the Conservative Party has produced toby jugs of several recent party leaders: Thatcher, of course; John Major; Cameron; May and Johnson. The makers have caught Cameron’s lip, but he looks pained rather than arrogant. Theresa May looks happy and relaxed, whereas most of us - surely - remember her as angry, grimly serious or tearful. The Johnson jugs have sold out, although there is one available on ebay. No sign of a Liz Truss toby jug.
Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince Charles Edward Stuart, 1720-1788), Roy Petrie
At nearly thirty quid, the jugs are absurdly expensive, and I was mindful that the funds go into Conservative Central Office’s campaign coffers. Scroll through what else is on offer and you will find a Thatcher pinny, and a telling amount of “Boris” merchandise. Like Highlanders yearning for the return of the Prince Across the Water, many Tory supporters are longing for a Johnson resurgence. Hold on to your wallets.
Christmas, Christopher Corr
Oh, spot on again! I was horrified that the funds go into Conservative Central Office’s campaign coffers. My mental response is a memory of Billy Bunter’s “Grooooh!”, when things go all wrong for him. I thought that Steve Bell of the Graun did Toby Jugs, but no, it’s just Mugs. If you would like to see a Toby Jug with a rather knowing expression, by Eugene Halliday, have a look at @eugenehallidayartist on Instagram, the Halloween post of 30th November (last image) (one of my accounts). Steve Bell Mugs (scroll down) http://www.belltoons.co.uk/shop
I was looking at toby jugs from Aberystwyth and other seaside resorts today, and wondered if Eugene Halliday designed any. Curious things. Can you imagine the Johnson one being sold out?
Glad to see you’re still buzzing with radical ideas!
Of course! Very glad to see you’re still reading them. Happy Christmas!