Untitled 1845 - 1855

This is a stoneware face vessel, a jug, made by an unrecorded potter from the Edgefield District of South Carolina, sometime in the 19th century. These vessels were produced in a region defined by the brutal institution of slavery. The Edgefield District was one of the South’s primary producers of stoneware. Enslaved African Americans were the primary workforce, so this vessel speaks volumes about the intersection of art, labor, and race in America. The identity of the potter remains unknown, yet their hands shaped this jug, and their cultural background deeply influenced its creation. The face, with its expressive, almost haunting features, hints at the emotions and experiences of the enslaved people. The vessel serves as a potent reminder of the human stories often overlooked in historical narratives.