Southern Pottery & Folk Art Auction
Lot 46:
1850s Edgefield South Carolina Face Jug Marked Y
Description
Significant 1850s Edgefield, South Carolina Slave Made Face Jug. New discovery of a five-inch-tall olive toned alkaline glazed face jug and I strongly believe this example to be one of the finest and most important Edgefield Face Jug to ever cross the block at auction due to condition, eye appeal, and most importantly the jug being signed with a scratched “Y”, also this is the only known example to be marked “Y” and documented at auction, also note the second known example to marked.. Fine sawtooth teeth that are strongly attributed to the Congolese tribes of Africa. Also note the applied detailed facial features, the kaolin eyes, the ridged eyebrows, detailed lips and the ears are very offset and make a unique feature on this jug. The glaze is a mature olive toned alkaline glaze with great eye appeal and very distinctive of documented Edgefield pottery glazes and face jugs. The handle on this jug is also very well documented to the Landrum site among other well known face vessels and other loop handled jugs and jars. Also note the difference between the ear placement on the jug is off center and is also documented on other known Edgefield face jugs. Classic rim treatment found at the Landrum site near Shaw’s Creek and strongly points to an 1850s time period. This example is simply stunning and one of the best preserved example of African tribal traditions and cultural examples of this size. One of the most intriguing features about this face jug is that it is marked “Y” to the left of the lip. A “Y” scratched mark has been noted on vessels produced at the Landrum site in the Edgefield District. This is the second known Edgefield face jug with any attributable maker’s mark. Also the lip treatment is documented in Carl Steen’s Book Titled “An Archaeological Survey of Pottery Production Sites in the Edgefield District of South Carolina”, page 86,95 note reference pictures in the publication and note the same handle treatment shown in the pictures that point to BF Landrum site “SC 191”. Provenance: Purchased by consignor about 30 years ago in an antique shop in Birmingham, Alabama, and has been in the consignor’s private collection until now. Standing: 5″ Tall
Condition report:
Condition: No damage and no cracks or repairs has been backlighted. Museum/Collector grade example. Folks, simply this is at the pinnacle of Edgefield pottery.
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