Circa 1936-1959: The Tom and Jerry was an alcoholic egg and milk drink, popular in the 30s and 40s. It was served warm from a large bowl in handled mugs. Homer Laughlin had already been producing this mug with a different handle when Fiesta was being designed. Adopting the ring handle, the Tom and Jerry mug was born. The fiesta mug is one of only two pieces that is without decorative rings, the other is the dripcut syrup pitcher, that was also borrowed from a pre-existing pottery line. These pieces were actually hand shaped with metal tools to achive the unusual curved in, concave shape. The wonderful hourglass shape couldn't be produced by a mold alone, so workers shaped them (thus explaining why some are more curvy and thinner than other mugs). Because of all the hand work there is much variation. Since the foot was shaped by hand they couldn't be marked in the mold so they were also hand glaze stamped with the Genuine Fiesta ink mark (some cups escaped the marking process, so it is not uncommon to also find the T&J mug unmarked). This example in yellow is in excellent condition without damage and is nicely marked on the bottom. Measures 3 1/8"h x 4 3/8" wide.