This stunning Stokes Croft China bone china mug combines the illustrations of Nick Hayes (author and illustrator of The Book of Trespass) with the words of an oft quoted folk poem, written as commentary on the social injustice caused by the privatisation of common land during the enclosures:

“The law locks up the man or woman
Who steals the goose off the common
But leaves the greater villain loose
Who steals the common from the goose.

The law demands that we atone
When we take things we do not own
But leaves the lords and ladies fine
Who takes things that are yours and mine.

The poor and wretched don’t escape
If they conspire the law to break;
This must be so but they endure
Those who conspire to make the law.

The law locks up the man or woman
Who steals the goose from off the common
And geese will still a common lack
Till they go and steal it back.”

Stokes Croft China is a small independent business in Bristol. Using designs, artwork and original pieces salvaged from the closure of historic ceramic factories in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, they blend the traditional craft of fine china with political, radical, thought-provoking and often funny messages. All their chinaware is decorated by hand and fired on site.