African American Slave Vessels

African American Tradition
This is a face jug made by an unidentified African-American slave around 1850. Enslaved African-Americans made bricks and pottery for use on the plantation. In their spare time, they created clay vessels with faces. These objects were highly prized in the community. They were passed down from one generation to the next. Other North Carolina potters also made face vessels. Perhaps they saw these small vessels and tried to make a face on one of their jugs.

Face jugs are humorous and often times have funny expressions. Potters began creating face jugs in their spare time. Some potters are famous for their face jugs like Burlon Craig of Vale, North Carolina. His face jugs are in great demand