9" x 6" Dia. (base).

A stoneware jug with eight lines of embossed text. William Livingston Strachan (1834-1879) was a grocer and wine/liquor merchant at multiple locations in Toronto from 1855 until his death in November 1879. He began at West Market Square and remained at a few different locations there until the mid/late 1860s when he had moved to 150 King Street East at the corner of Nelson Street (present-day Jarvis Street). The address on the jug is very specific, perhaps because there was either another William Jarvis located nearby (163 King St. E.) or he had a second location. In any case, this is a remarkable piece of Toronto history with rarely-seen 8 lines of script. Late 1860s. Stamped, "W. Strachan & Co / Wholesale & Retail / Dealers In / Groceries / Wines & Liquors / North-East Cor / Of King & Nelson Sts / Toronto Ont".

Good condition. Darker toned surface due to overfiring in the kiln. 1/2" potstone at the front, bottom right. Three tiny (3/16") nicks at the back (2 on the handle, 1 to the right of the lower handle terminal).