Such a HANDSOME rooster! :-D I bought this highly-collectable 'black cockerel' Torquay motto-ware jug in a charming and small antique shop in the tiny coastal town of Whitby, England in 1988. At the time, it was the equivalent of NZ$120 - a much-desired piece for my late mother's collection of Torquay motto-ware, as the 'black cockerel' range was considered by motto-ware collectors as 'the pattern to own.' 'Black cockerel' Torquay motto ware pottery sets were primarily made in the 1930s. The design also appeared on pieces manufactured in the 1920s and 1940s, as part of the broader production of Torquay motto ware which spanned from the late 1800s until the mid-20th century. The 'motto-ware' is earthenware pieces decorated with text (often in Devon dialect) and designs, typically made from this locally-sourced red Devon clay. Longpark Pottery, which was in business from 1883 until 1957, produced many items with this design. Watcombe Pottery also produced items featuring the black cockerel.