Holloway’s Ointment Pot

Edwardian

Circa 1910–1931 | England

An antique Holloway’s ointment pot advertising the treatment for gout and rheumatism by the inimitable Thomas Holloway with ancient Greek iconography (see The Gen). This pot bears the address for 113 Southwark Street which was the premises for Thomas Holloway’s business from 1910 to 1931. There are two price ranges for the Southwark Street pots, the earlier pots showing 1s 1½d, 2/9, 4/6, 11/-, 22/- and 33/- per pot. Following a price increase, the pots then carried the prices of 1/3, 3/-, 5/-, 12/-, 24/- and 36/. This is an earlier pot. Transfer printed in black on cream earthenware.

DIMENSIONS: Height 3.9 cm, Width 4.8 cm.

CONDITION: In very good condition, with wear commensurate with antique age and use of such a piece. There are minor chips to the rim, hairlines and some stains and rust. These all add to the history of the piece and wonder of the stories it could tell.

REFERENCES: An example of a similar pot is held at the State Library of NSW. 

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THE GEN

“Classical style decoration reminiscent of ancient Greek iconography, a popular device in the advertising of pharmaceutical wares, also appears on a few lids. A notable example is the Holloways Ointment lid which depicts a woman in Grecian robes seated on a throne and accompanied by a child.

Pot lid designs were the work of jobbing engravers usually on steel or copper plates and the sophistication and inventiveness of their lay-outs makes it hard to believe they were not men of letters but often semi-literate craftsmen, as the occasional misspelling indicates.” (The Advertising Art of Printed Pot Lids, Roger Green and David Lewis, Old Bottles and Treasure Hunting, 1979, p. 11)

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