Waltzing Matilda musical jug - Diana Pottery

Photos kindly supplied by Tim - his gift from Santa.
Mirek Smisek was a designer at Diana Pottery and designed this popular jug along with Tony Vacek.

The final word on this jug will come from Mirek, am organising to get photos to him. TBC

In 'The Shop Detective' column on page 16 of the Sydney Morning Herald of September 16, 1951 an item says:
"A Waltzing Matilda Jug that we saw - and heard - at Diment's of Hurstville is something to delight any true Australian. It is no mere musical toy, but a practical jug, holding two pints. It's made in Australia of glazed pottery, modelled in high relief and painted in true bush colours. The Swiss movement is a very strong one, so that the melody of 'Waltzing Matilda' comes out with all the liveliness associated with Australua's 'signature tune'. To enliven your Christmas parties, as a gift for friends overseas this Waltzing Matilda Musical Jug at [pound sign]6/7/6 is the very thing. (Freight and packing 4/- extra.) Diment's 296 Forest Road, Hurstville. LU2041."

6 pounds was quite a bit in 1951 wasn't it ?

From Measuringworth:

Let me try again !!!!
In 1949 £1 AU = $US 2.24
2.24x £6/7/6 = $14.14
which converts to $117.81 today
$117.81US = $154.06 as of now

On http://www.thepeoplespotteries.com.au/the_peoples_potteries.htm there's a picture of the cover of the book showing the jug and the mug.

Some interesting links about the waltzing matilda jugs that Tony found....
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/txt/s2053730.htm

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=358209&img=95179
great stuff here.... showing the different glazing used too!

and a musical mug on ebay ....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290387440461&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

That one on ebay is quite a bit more than the one on trademe

I am impressed with the information, the mug and the sleuthing that went with all the above!! Nice piece Tim!

Saw a mug at an Antique Fair today .....
gosh they would only hold a small drink as half of the mug is used up with the musical mechanics!
Alas the mug was $295 ......

Ev wrote:Saw a mug at an Antique Fair today .....
gosh they would only hold a small drink as half of the mug is used up with the musical mechanics!
Alas the mug was $295 ......

It's not un-buyable at that price but it would want to be in perfect condition with a nice smooth music box.

I sold mine a while back on eBay for a shade less than that with a stuck mechanism. I really regret selling it especially since I just bought a Jug and would have liked to have them on display side by side.

Tim

I got my mug a while back for around $20 I think, just luck I think.

TimCaulton wrote:I got my mug a while back for around $20 I think, just luck I think.

There are certainly bargains out there if you are willing to wait.

As a rule I don't collect Diana and don't have the right budget to pay top dollar so for things like this I have to be lucky!

I bought my Mug at Auction a year ago for $19.70 inc commission.

Since selling that mug I have also purchased 2 WM Jugs for about $60 each (though to be fair the second one is busted but had a working mechanism in it)

Tim