In the early days of illicit distilling it was common that the customer brought their own vessels to be filled by the moonshiners.
As more and more distillers became licenced it ment that they not only were able to brand their products but they also faced competition. Showing off the product name became important for customer loyalty.
With potteries abundant at the end of the 1800's clay flagons that could be decorated with information on both brand and maker was a natural choice.
The turn of the century saw the invention of automated glass bottle machines and it didn't take long for glass which was both lighter and cheaper to dominate the market.
Quite a few blends have still been filled in ceramic flagons up through the decades, but it is done for a choice of brands and more as a novelty than out of necessity.
Port Dundas Pottery
ca 1890 - 1900
Royal Doulton Kingsware.
ca 1900-1939
Kingsware is the name of a production process developed by Royal Doulton around 1900. Unlike more conventionally where the glaze and decor is applied on a finished piece of pottery here it was applied to the mold before firing and in that way fused onto the clay giving more luster and depth to the colour, although clear and bright "clean" colours were impossible to reproduce. Kingsware is recognized by it's brownish base. Items made with the same process but applied on a white base is known as Queensware. Production continued until 1939 when war restrictions and finally a full ban was introduced on decorated "household" items. It never commenced after the war when the ban was lifted, and today the process is more or less impossible or at least not economically reasonable to replicate.
Dewar's was the most prominent customer for using these as advertising pieces. They could be bought in Dewar's own shops, selected spirits retailers or in department stores. Either sealed with whisky or empty just as decanters. Greenlee's and Claymore also had a few made.
The ad to the right from December 1929 states there are 12 Dewar's designs to choose from. Most likely what was the current selection for Christmas that year. But a collectors guide counts at least twice as many, not counting that several of them eventually were made in different sizes. Neither Dewar's or any other customer, nor Doulton kept any kind of records of orders or production. But Doulton had a requirement of minimum 1000 pr. order. In 1930 the price for an empty "standard" flask was 7 shilling, today that would equal about £16 . Filled with Dewar's White Label the price was 17 shilling 6 pence, equal to £42. The average skilled worker's pay at that time was +/- 10 shilling a day.
Most common is a chrome plated copper stopper, that in most cases for the ones found for sale outside premium antique shops are missing or at best damaged. The more exclusive and undoubtedly more expensive came with a silver stopper attached to the handle with a chain. Some special editions also had ornamental stoppers. Originally most flasks came with a tartan "scarf" tied in a bow around the neck. I have still to see one with that in place.
Dating them exactly can be a bit of detective work as many were in production either continuously or in batches over more than three decades. Narrowing it down a bit can be done by details in the design and base markings. Generally the ones without raised lettering and just the Dewar's stamp underneath are dated 1930 or later. This is due to cost savings by Doulton as Dewar's had made a long term fixed price contract.
Prices vary widely. From less than £50 for the most common and possibly lightly damaged ones. To the rarest in mint condition, The Foxhunt seen offered on eBay for £150.000.
Micawber - "The Ever Expectant"
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Fictional character from Charles Dickens' David Copperfield.
Long production period with unknown introduction date. Exists in different versions. This one with the regular Dewar's mark to the base.
Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788) Grandson of King James II. Leader of the Jacobites rebellion that was beaten at the battle of Culloden.
1912, design #618840 With the regular Dewar's mark to the base. Also found with Dewar's in relief on the back.
Tony Weller - "Beware of the vidders"
Fictional character, a stage-coachman from Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers.
Long production period with unknown introduction date. Exists in different versions. Also without the text to the back but with the regular Dewar's mark to the base.
"Sporting Squire"
Early version vith RdNo 578705 and later version in the same design with just the "Dewar's Whisky" circle.
The Squire was a person usually leading a country fox hunt.
1910 design, #578705 Different shapes and sizes made. This is the small "globular". A larger version with a Royal Crest exist, made in 1911 for King George V marriage. Same motif also found on a taller pear shape. Also one version called "Fox Hunter" where the handle is shaped like a fox.
"Falstaff"
Sir John Falstaff, a fat and good humored fictional Shakespear character, appearing in Henry IV and The Merry Wifes of Windsor.
1907 design, #508037 Several versions made. Dewar's Scotch Whisky on the back like this one, just Dewar's Whisky or without script on the back and simply the Dewar's mark underneath. Also found with green coloured hat.
"Oyez! Oyez!"
a.k.a. The Town Crier. A person that made news available to the public before newspaper printing.
1909 design, #545292 This is the tall straight version. Same design also made in an oval shorter version.
"George The Guard"
Armed guards were usually assigned to ride along and protect mail coaches.
1909 design, #545291 Above is the tall straight version. Below a pear shaped shorter version with no text to the back, just the Dewar's stamp underneath.
"The Watchman"
The Watchman was an 18th century forerunner to the City Police Officer, patroling the streets at night calling out time and the weather.
Design, #400172, one of the earliest Kingsware designs from 1902. With and without Rd number to the base. Also exists in a tall cylindrical form with several text versions.
"Uncle Sam"
The character should not need any further introduction. The flask was most likely aimed for the US market. Another indication of this is that it's more common to see for sale from the US.
