A Fox and Hound Romance
Ethel and Joe Goodley were both born and raised in the industrial midlands of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England. The region was called 'The Potteries' as it was home to countless ceramic factories. Ethel and Joe both worked at 'Royal Milton,' a mid-sized manufacturer of fine china plates and earthenware. Ethel's job as a 'transferrer' involved laying a patterned tissue onto the pottery before it was fired. Meanwhile, Joe worked as a general clay worker, bringing the heavy, wet clay into the receiving area of the cold, dark factory. Despite the harsh working conditions, Joe loved talking to his fellow workers, especially the women who mainly worked on the upper level. He would try to find reasons to personally deliver materials upstairs, hoping to chat with them.
This is where he met Ethel. Traditionally, a fox and a hound would never socialize, let alone fraternize. Socially, it was somewhat frowned upon. This was defying tradition and the social norms of the time. Joe didn't let that stop him. Every Friday, he would ask Ethel out. But Ethel, being a bit hesitant, would always decline Joe's invitations with a frosty attitude.
Joe's attempts to win over Ethel's heart had hit a dead end. He had tried everything. Ethel remained cold and distant to him. That's when a new female, Spaniel, was hired in the figure painting department, and Joe's attention turned to her. Ethel couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy when she heard that Joe was sharing his sandwiches with the new hire at lunchtime. And so, she decided to make a move. Ethel invited Joe to go dancing with her and her work friends on Saturday night, and he agreed. Exactly one year and three months later, this photo was taken. Later, they had two children, Vera and Joyce.
Available as:
Paper print (Matte finish - Signed): 8" X 11" - $30.00
Paper print (Matte finish - Signed) 11H" X 15W" - $49.00
The ORIGINAL: Pencil illustration on paper. Image size: 11H" X 15W" Framed size: 17" x 21" - $1200.00
Watermark will not be printed on image
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All reproduction prints are scanned and printed using gallery standard, professional equipment and materials. Ensuring the highest quality.
Illustrated in the style of a vintage Edwardian or Victorian photograph. This image is part of my 'Anicurio' collection. Each original illustration is carefully hand-drawn in pencil. Once finished, I often hand-age them and treat them with various dye methods to resemble an old dusty antique photograph. I want this series to suggest something that you rediscovered. An inherited artifact from a mysterious benefactor? Or perhaps revealed in a long abandoned attic, lying at the bottom of a chest. Buried beneath old dusty clothes and fading handwritten notes.