Face Jugs

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Face Jugs have a long history in the Southern US but nobody seems to know exactly their origins.  The most common stories are that they were invented as a way to warn children of the poisonous contents of the jars (be it arsenic or moonshine) or that they were meant to keep away evil spirits from the graves of family members.  Most believe the tradition began with slaves who worked pottery wheels for manufacturing goods and created face jugs for their own use.  One source even mentions that the face jugs may be an artistic coping technique, to deal with the harsh and oppressive conditions in which these people lived and worked.  The tradition of face jugs has continued to this day in many areas of the Southeast, especially in North Carolina and Georgia.
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Traditionally, the clay is sourced locally, glazed in alkaline glazes (many glazes were made from ashes of wood burning stoves) and fired in "groundhog" kilns.  Making these jugs was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that depended heavily on limited natural resources.  When a vein of clay in the soil ran out, an entire operation had to move!  Because of the expense and time involved, this type of pottery was no longer profitable once slavery was abolished and mass-produced tin cans and mason jars became readily available.  Now most face jugs are sold as souvenirs to tourists or as works of art..

Janice Hall Shields, a potter in Georgia who creates face jugs, explains her technique in this short video.  Watch as she creates an elaborate face jug from start to finish, including explaining her glazing and firing processes.

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While doing more searching for images of face jugs, I found many examples of face mugs, which, due to their smaller scale, might be an easier project to tackle if you're interested in this type of pottery.

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What I love most about these face jugs and face mugs is the effect the faces have on an otherwise standard pot or cup.  Some of the faces are truly horrifying, while others are whimsical and engaging.  Imagine going into your cupboard for a cup and seeing so many faces looking back at you!
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Links to more information about face jugs:

• Frank Sullivan Pottery: Face Jug History
• American Folk: Face Jugs
• Lesson Plan: Ceramic Face Vessels and Face Jugs
• Edgefield Potters
• The Black Potter: Face Jugs & Functional Pottery

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[I wrote this post for the Supermud Pottery Studio blog in the next few weeks, so you are getting a preview!]