Dimensions: Actual size is 10 1/4″ high, 4 1/2″ side, and 2 1/2″ deep

H.C. Meyer Saloon, Granite City, Illinois

c. 1912-1913

A recent gift to the Museum’s Decorative Arts collection is this intriguing tramp art bottle, donated by William H. Meyer and Charles A. Meyer. The object was originally acquired by their father, H. C. Meyer, proprietor of the H. C. Meyer Saloon in Granite City. The creator was a “knight of the road” or hobo whose only request was for a cigar box and an empty bottle. he cut pieces from the cigar box, colored them, and glued then in place with a long hat pin. The saloon-in-a-bottle was presented to Meyer in exchange for a few drinks.

The scene depicts two patrons drinking at the H. C. Meyer Saloon with a bartender behind the bar. At the bottom, beneath the bar, are the words “Find the missing man.” William H. Meyer explains: “This was requested to arouse the interest of the onlooker. The hobo who made the relic instructed our father to hand the bottle to the person examining it so that this person would pick up the bottle with his right hand. The idea was to hide the missing man while the person was searching. The outcome was a long search with little success.” Because the person held the bottle in the right hand, the hiding place was concealed. The missing man (shown at right) is under the floor of the bar and visible only from the right side of the bottle.