A Rockingham pottery figural spirit flask dated 1830

A Rockingham pottery figural spirit flask dated 1830, modelled as a man in a top hat, seated astride a barrel and holding a jug and glass, impressed 'J Smith The Mormon Prophet', decorated in a running treacle glaze, 22.5cm.

Joseph Smith (1805-44) was the founder of the Mormon movement and author of the Book of Mormon. The movement is famously teetotal and flasks of this type were produced to mock the non-drinkers.