The Toby jug theme is part of Slee's questioning of Englishness and the continuing or changing meaning of English traditions. This work is typically ambiguous - is this a grumpy child with a toy plane, or a sort of nursery-rhyme King Kong? The enlarged scale helps to emphasise the strangeness of the Toby jug as an iconic form, like John Bull or Mr Punch.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Toby with Airplane, 1994
Date supported
2004
Medium and material
Earthenware
Dimensions
48 x 40 x 23 cm
Grant
1600
Total cost
3240
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