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Antique Framed Print : Our (Very) Friendly Societies!, 1886. Artist: Joseph Swain
Framed Photos from Heritage Images
Our (Very) Friendly Societies!, 1886. Artist: Joseph Swain
Our (Very) Friendly Societies!, 1886. The representative of Britains honest and sober working-class is diligently posting his small savings into the door of the Cormorant Friendly Society. On the other side of the door can be seen the cormorants, the directors of the society who are eating hugely, drinking deeply and enjoying the best cigars. This cartoon accompanies a poem of the same name which accuses such societies of keeping poor accounts, charging much, working little, and living on the proceeds of the thrift of the working classes. The percentage of profits made by societies sometimes were as high as fifty per cent. From Punch, or the London Charivari, March 20, 1886
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Media ID 14831955
© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images
Banking Cigar Cigars Corruption Director Drinking Eating Friendly Society Heritage Image Partnership Honesty John Tenniel Joseph Swain Sir John Tenniel Social Class Swain Tenniel Working Class Depositing Fat Cat Metaphor
14"x12" (36x31cm) Antique Frame
Bevelled wood effect frame, card mounted, 10x8 archival quality photo print. Overall outside dimensions 14x12 inches (36x31cm). Environmentally and ozone friendly, the Polycore® moulding has the look of real wood, is durable and light and easy to hang. Biodegradable and made with non-chlorinated gases (no toxic fumes) it is efficient; producing 100 tons of polystyrene can save 300 tons of trees! Prints are glazed with lightweight, shatterproof, optical clarity acrylic (providing the same general protection from the environment as glass). The back is stapled hardboard with a sawtooth hanger attached. Note: To minimise original artwork cropping, for optimum layout, and to ensure print is secure, the visible print may be marginally smaller
Bevelled Wood Effect Framed and Mounted Prints - Professionally Made and Ready to Hang
Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 24.4cm x 19.1cm (9.6" x 7.5")
Estimated Product Size is 36.3cm x 31.2cm (14.3" x 12.3")
These are individually made so all sizes are approximate
Artwork printed orientated as per the preview above, with landscape (horizontal) orientation to match the source image.
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Our (Very) Friendly Societies!, 1886
EDITORS COMMENTS
is a thought-provoking print that captures the stark contrast between the working class and the wealthy directors of friendly societies in Victorian Britain. In this satirical cartoon, Joseph Swain portrays a diligent working-class representative depositing his hard-earned savings into the Cormorant Friendly Society's door, while on the other side, cormorants - metaphorical representations of gluttonous directors - indulge in extravagant feasting, drinking, and smoking cigars. The image serves as a powerful critique of these societies' practices, accusing them of poor accounting, exorbitant charges, minimal work output, and exploiting the thriftiness of the working classes for their own benefit. It highlights how some friendly societies profited immensely from their members' contributions; profits sometimes reached an astonishing fifty percent. Through this biting caricature and accompanying poem titled "Our (Very) Friendly Societies!". Swain exposes corruption within banking systems and sheds light on social inequality prevalent during that era. The print encapsulates themes such as honesty versus deception, financial exploitation, social class divisions, and the struggle faced by ordinary workers to secure their future. This monochrome engraving from 19th-century London offers us a glimpse into history while reminding us of enduring issues surrounding finance and fairness. It prompts reflection on how far we have come in terms of transparency and accountability within financial institutions since then.
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