Stoneware Jug c. 1937

Curator: Here we have Annie B. Johnston's "Stoneware Jug," created around 1937. It's rendered with such delicate precision. Editor: It's the color that gets me first. That earthy, almost honeyed, tone of the jug—it feels incredibly grounded, solid. A quiet kind of strength. Curator: I find the jug almost archetypal. A vessel, quite literally, for holding and preserving. Its simple form speaks volumes about folk traditions. Notice how carefully Johnston captures the variations in tone, suggesting the cool touch of the pottery itself. Editor: Absolutely! A humble jug, yet it echoes ancient amphorae. Consider its rounded belly, almost womb-like, connoting both nurture and secrets. There's a connection here to our most basic needs—water, food, sustenance. And this humble utilitarian object has been elevated. Curator: The inscription above the jug— "Stevens Bros. & Co. GA, Stevens Pottery" — offers a tangible link to a specific place and maker. This image may even celebrate local craft and commerce during its time. It certainly reflects an appreciation for handmade objects in the face of industrialization. Editor: And isn't it interesting that she chose this particular object? There is no overt action or narrative—it's almost iconic. The stoneware jug, as rendered in gentle watercolor, invites us to contemplate daily existence, almost like a secular still life of the South. A memento from an unhurried past. Curator: What I appreciate most is the blend of the everyday with something approaching reverence. This humble jug is a record of cultural persistence—a link to a time when simple objects held immense value and purpose. Editor: It leaves me pondering how much meaning we imbue in ordinary items, how objects can tell untold stories about ourselves and about forgotten eras, and echo our own deep and very old pasts.