Royal Doulton Pied Piper Folklore Rat Exterminator Toby Character Jug D6462 4.5"

Description

Vintage Royal Doulton Pied Piper 6462 Toby Character Jug depicted wearing a green hat, a maroon and yellow tunic, gray hair, and features a handle shaped like a walking stick/dog figurine. Designer: Geoff Blower circa 1953.

The Legend of the Pied Piper

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is the titular character of a famous German legend dating back to the Middle Ages.
• The Bargain: According to folklore, the town of Hamelin, Germany, was suffering from a severe rat infestation. A stranger dressed in multicolored ("pied") clothing arrived and promised the mayor he could rid the town of the pests for a specific sum of money.
• The Task: The piper played a magical melody on his flute (or pipe). Entranced by the music, all the rats followed him out of the town and into the Weser River, where they drowned.
• The Retribution: When the mayor and townspeople refused to pay the agreed-upon fee, the infuriated piper sought revenge. He returned on June 26, 1284, and played his pipe once more. This time, the town's children became enchanted by the music. They followed him out of Hamelin and into a cave or mountain, never to be seen again.

Condition

Very Good

Dimensions

4.5" x 3.25" x 4.25" (W x D x H)