The Bottle, S Moore & Co
'The Bottle' is a series of eight transfers by Moore & Co, based on engravings by George Cruickshank, made in support of the temperance movement. The above plaques (plate II & VI) are particularly fine, have a blueish transfer, and a printed mark (right) incorporating a gin bottle. Plaques with these transfers more usually have scalloped corners like the ones below (plates I – VIII). They also have 'the bottle' printed mark. The first and last plaques have black transfers, the rest are blue. I've never seen a full set with matching decoration. The engravings by Cruickshank on which they are based are shown on the right.
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE I – THE BOTTLE IS BROUGHT OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE HUSBAND INDUCES HIS WIFE JUST TO TAKE A DROP.
PLATE I – THE BOTTLE IS BROUGHT OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE HUSBAND INDUCES HIS WIFE JUST TO TAKE A DROP.
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE II – HE IS DISCHARGED FROM HIS EMPLOYMENT FOR DRUNKENNESS
THEY PAWN THEIR CLOTHES TO SUPPLY THE BOTTLE.
PLATE II – HE IS DISCHARGED FROM HIS EMPLOYMENT FOR DRUNKENNESS
THEY PAWN THEIR CLOTHES TO SUPPLY THE BOTTLE.
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE III – AN EXECUTION SWEEPS OFF THE GREATER PART
OF THEIR FURNITURE:
THEY COMFORT THEMSELVES IN THE BOTTLE
PLATE III – AN EXECUTION SWEEPS OFF THE GREATER PART
OF THEIR FURNITURE:
THEY COMFORT THEMSELVES IN THE BOTTLE
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE IV – UNABLE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT,
THEY ARE DRAWN BY POVERTY INTO THE STREETS TO BEG .
AND BY THIS MEANS THEY STILL SUPPLY THE BOTTLE.
PLATE IV – UNABLE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT,
THEY ARE DRAWN BY POVERTY INTO THE STREETS TO BEG .
AND BY THIS MEANS THEY STILL SUPPLY THE BOTTLE.
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE V – COLD, MISERY & WANT.DESTROY THEIR YOUNGEST CHILD:
THEY CONSOLE THEMSELVES WITH THE BOTTLE.
PLATE V – COLD, MISERY & WANT.DESTROY THEIR YOUNGEST CHILD:
THEY CONSOLE THEMSELVES WITH THE BOTTLE.
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE VI – FEARFUL QUARRELS, AND BRUTAL VOILENCE. (sic)
ARE THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE FREQUENT USE OF THE BOTTLE.
PLATE VI – FEARFUL QUARRELS, AND BRUTAL VOILENCE. (sic)
ARE THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE FREQUENT USE OF THE BOTTLE.
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE VII – THE HUSBAND.IN A STATE OF FURIOUS DRUNKENNESS.
KILLS HIS WIFE WITH THE INSTRUMENT OF ALL THEIR MISERY.
PLATE VII – THE HUSBAND.IN A STATE OF FURIOUS DRUNKENNESS.
KILLS HIS WIFE WITH THE INSTRUMENT OF ALL THEIR MISERY.
THE BOTTLE.
PLATE VIII – THE BOTTLE HAS DONE ITS WORK–
IT HAS DESTROYED THE INFANT & THE MOTHER.
IT HAS BOUGHT THE SON AND THE DAUGHTER TO VICE
AND TO THE STREETS AND HAS LEFT THE FATHER A HOPELESS MANIAC.
PLATE VIII – THE BOTTLE HAS DONE ITS WORK–
IT HAS DESTROYED THE INFANT & THE MOTHER.
IT HAS BOUGHT THE SON AND THE DAUGHTER TO VICE
AND TO THE STREETS AND HAS LEFT THE FATHER A HOPELESS MANIAC.
The images below show very rare round plaques with plates III, IV and V.
Tyneside 'Bottle' series
The Bottle series appears on children's plates from many different potteries (see many examples here). The transfers tend to be slightly cruder in detail. Very rarely, these simplified transfers appear on Tyneside plaques, like those above. If you have one, please get in touch.
The Drunkard's Children
Cruickshank made a second series of engravings showing the fates of the drunkard's children. These images have never been used on pottery to my knowledge. Click on the images to enlarge.
