A rare treacleware (Rockingham type glaze) figural spirit flask moulded in the form of an old man with a walking stick, sitting on a tree stump. He holds the stick between his legs with his right hand. He leans backwards and has a pot belly and wears a low hat with round rolled brim. His feet stick out at base. The flask is glazed all over, including the base, with a thick dark brown glaze. The base is recessed and has three trivit point kiln furniture scars.
This is a very rare earthenware flask, with no matching salt-glazed versions known. Though often called reform flasks this flask has no connection with the parliamentary reforms of the 1830s. There are similarities between this flask and the mysterious ‘Edward Whyatt of Bondary’ flasks, though obviously different and lacking any inscription. The Whyatt flasks are believed to be connected with the Wooden Box Factory / Hartshorne, Derbyshire, owned by Thompson, though so far (to my knowledge) nobody has been able to trace an Edward Whyatt or fathom what that flask, or this flask, are about.
Pot ID: AP/1370
Dimensions: 224 mm high to top of hat.
Net Weight (grams): 673
Date: c.1840-1865.
Condition Report:
There is a small chip on inside of rim.
