These late Victorian (c.1890s) stoneware beer bottles are wonderfully decorative pieces with a thick glaze and wonderful, crisp graphics / lettering. This example is for 'The Doctor's Stout', made by R Emmerson Jr of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and depicts a cyclist on a penny-farthing bicycle

 

'The Doctor's Stout' and the cyclist pictorial is probably a reference to the fact that doctor’s used to advise recovering athletes to drink Stout.

 

Of all the Victorian stoneware beer bottles I've encountered this is easily my favourite; the pictorial of the penny-farthing adds an extra dimension to the lettering normally found and the 'label' is embellished with so much extra wording; including the 'trade mark' bandarole and a banner with 'this label is issued only by R. Emmerson Junr. Newcastle on Tyne' sits alongside 'Bottled only by R. Emmerson Jnr. 1 George St. Newcastle on Tyne' etc. 

 

The bottle has survived it's years in good order with just a few small patches of discolouration / marking. It has a nice maker's stamp to the lower, right side of the bottle.

 

The bottle measures 20.3cm high and is 6.5cm in diameter. The price includes UK Mainland delivery.

 

S/N: #1396