~EXTRAORDINARY HISTORICAL POTTERY FACE JUG~
(Item: FACE JUG)
This outstanding face jug...or effigy jug...has been in our collection for about 15 years. History, prior, was a Connecticut family from which we purchased. It had been in their family "as long as any one could remember." Their opinion was New England origin and pre 1900. We had accumulated a number of good Southern face jugs, including several early Lanier Meaders. The advent of Ebay tempted us to offer those for sale, which did a couple of years ago and received excellent prices. This exotic "face" was the crown jewel of the collection.
I succumbed to a horrible urge and fulfilled a 30 year old dream and bought a beautiful, one owner Triumph TR6, on Ebay, a few days ago. Thus, to avoid guilt association problems, THE FACE JUG is being sacrificed. He is worthy of the top shelf in any quality and early folk art pottery collection.
Following is as good a
description as we can offer:
Made of tan clay, which has a slight reddish
hint (but, would not call it "red clay").
10 3/4 inches tall and about 7 1/2 inches
at the widest.
Some areas of shinny glaze, in spots where
it was rarely touched (like under the mouth & around the nose and the
back has more glaze than the face).
One ear has a 1 inch piece missing on
top. You cannot seen the light brown clay here, so may have occurred
in the making, as well as a small chip under his left eye. There
are no cracks or repairs. There is separation where the applied mouth and
eyes attach. These separations are not recent, as they have been
there since we acquired.
The surface is "gritty" and almost like a
sandpaper feel.
The eyes and teeth are a smoother porcelain
like material.
Among the pictures, below, is an "early 19th century probably Connecticut Grotesque jug" (from Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection, Williamsburg, Virginia). Striking similarities of teeth, mouth and ear construction, handle in front/spout in back, etc. This is pictured page 359, Treasury of American Design and Antiques by Clarence P. Hornung.
There are two spots where the jug may be marked:
1) an area center back, about about 3 inches below the spout, where there
very much looks to be two words in script (we even once took "him" to the
Doctors office and had him x-rayed, in hope of being able to read these
"words". This attempt was unsuccessful). Also, on the bottom is a
mark which may be a "D", an "A", or, an "R". But, this is also undetermined.
This is a wonderful piece of Americana and
deserves the attention of serious and advanced collectors of folk pottery.
Will pack appropriately and ship properly
to the highest bidder.
BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PICTURES, WE HAVE USED OUR "THUMBNAIL FORMAT". PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW OF THE FACE JUG TO SEE THE OTHER PICTURES AND IN GREATER SIZE!
CLICK "HERE" FOR A GALLERY OF ALL OUR EBAY AUCTIONS
| SOLD |
FURROWED BROW & DRAWN IN CHEEKS
"Grotesque jug of gray stoneware covered with olive green glaze . Probably made in Connecticut in the early nineteenth century"
attempt at close up of first word
Small chip on top of ear, with glaze over chip
attempt of close up of 2nd word
first word again
second word again
mark on bottom
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Hygiene, Colorado 80533
(816) 268-4865
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