Bidspirit auction | Victorian Staffordshire Farmers Arms Earthenware

Victorian Staffordshire Farmers Arms Earthenware Cider Mug - A Victorian earthenware cider mug featuring a cream glaze and black transfer-printed decoration. The cylindrical body is decorated with agricultural motifs, centred on a panel containing a poem titled The Farmers Song. The text of the poem is as follows: I live on my farm in a beautiful vale, Ye lovers of nature attend to my tale; No pride or ambition find room in my breast: Those venomous foes of contentment and rest: From sound healthy sleep I rise up every morn To toil in my fields with my cattle and corn. And prefer while of rural employment I sing The life of a Farmer to that of a King. This verse is framed by a wreath containing a plough, a rake, a scythe, ears of wheat, and farmyard birds. Above the poem, a ribbon banner reads GOD SPEED THE PLOUGH. The base of the mug bears a black transfer-printed mark consisting of a ribbon banner containing the words FARMERS ARMS positioned above the initials B. W. & Co. A bright orange adhesive sticker reading 65 is attached to the upper rim, and a white card string tag is tied to the handle (photo 1).