Face Jar
Artist/Creator
Enslaved Potter
Date
1860s
Description
This face jar is expertly crafted with an alkaline glaze. The base is a wheel-turned vase with facial features attached after its turning. The jar has been given human ears with their tragus' featured, eyebrows, eyes, a nose, lips and delineated teeth. It is believed that the eyeballs and teeth were originally white, but they obtained their darkened appearance by either being displayed in a sooty environment or they were intentionally darkened by the sooty fumes during its kiln firing.
Current theories suggest that this jar would have been used for religious rituals and not for everyday usage. Or it may have been stationed at the entry door to the slave's home to ward off spirits.
Credit Line
Donated by Mr. John Stelling.
Location
Exhibit
Object ID
2265
