A lighter moment from Harriet Beecher Stowe's influential anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's...
A lighter moment from Harriet Beecher Stowe's influential anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, is depicted in black transfer printing on this small bone china mug. One of George Cruikshank's well known 1852 illustrations shows Eva, the saintly child of a slave-owning family, bestowing affection and quite a few floral garlands on her beloved friend, the enslaved title character Uncle Tom.The sentimental scene takes place in a garden setting with architectural details of the family mansion as background.
The printed vignette is presented with no border other than touches of gilding. A scrolled handle adds an additional flourish to the simple mug shape.