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Bottle 360 - For Gus Moore
Date Added: 01 October 2005

This is an exceptionally detailed and well made scene of the crucifixion. Inside the bottle is Jesus on the cross with the two thieves along side. Jesus and both thieves are carved in wood with arms that are attached so that they could be raised once in the bottle. The arms are attached to the body with flush pieces of dowel and placed in the chest where they appear to be the men's nipples. The main cross upright is a single piece going from the base of the bottle to the neck of the bottle. It begins to taper as it rises above the head of Jesus. There is a cross arm pegged to the upright Jesus' arms are attached to this cross arm with wooden nails which are pegged with a wooden stick. The cross arm used for the thieves is from a single piece of wood and the arms are also pegged. The upright part of both thieves crosses are made from a thin piece of wood and pegged to the cross arm. All the figures hands and feet are covered in blood where the nails penetrated them. Jesus also has red on the chest where he was stabbed with the spear. Jesus is wearing a long skirt-like garment that is cream colored with brown stripes in a curved pattern. The thieves are wearing a blue skirt. The faces of Jesus and the thieves are elongated and have a long raised nose. Facial features are drawn on and the hair is colored black. All figures feet are carved with the left one on top of the right foot and a single nail going through both feet. Under their feet is a pointed foot rest or platform. The cross is seated on a cross base made from wood with one direction colored red and the other green. On the back side of the scene is a red ladder extending from the base to high in the neck of the bottle forming part of the seal. On one side of the ladder is an inscription that reads: "Made by Tiny Gray 1514 W. Fayette St. Balto. MD." On the other side it states: "For Gus Moore 12/20/41 Merry Xmas." Spanning the crosses upright, and behind the ladder is a pegged cross piece painted green, This also prevents the shaft from being removed from the bottle. On each side of this green piece are two more green pieces with one end in a point. These are pegged to the green cross piece at the top and on the bottom; they are pegged to a wooden chain with a curved decorative link across the top and a long link on each side and a connecting long link across the bottom. The shaft has multiple shims keeping it tight in the neck and there is a sealing wax on the top at the end of the bottle neck. The bottle has a raised "One Quart" on one side and "Federal law forbids sale or re-use of this bottle" on the other.
Type: Crucifixion   Maker's Name: Gray, Tiny
Category: Religious   Made Where: Baltimore, MD
Bottle Size: 11 1/2" x 3 3/8"   Year Made: 1941, December 20
Bottle Type: One Quart Unidentified  


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