Its bulging eyes stare into the distance. Its crooked mouth hangs forever agape. By all accounts, the 19th-century face jug in the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts’ collection is “gruesome,” says Executive Director Amy Autenreith.
But that’s exactly what makes it so unique.
“It does not evoke that same kind of emotion that a beautiful piece of Tiffany glass will. It evokes a different type of emotion,” Autenreith says.
The crude work of art is one of the few uncovered face jugs fashioned by African-American slaves who worked in Edgefield County, South Carolina, as potters during the mid-1800s. Since the mostly illiterate slaves couldn’t etch their loved ones’ names on headstones after they died, historians believe they used the jugs as grave markers, alongside other ritualistic objects. According to folklore, the faces were made ugly to scare away the devil and evil spirits, allowing the soul of the deceased to make its way to the next plane of existence in peace.
A 19th-century face jug is shown.The Houston Museum’s clay vessel was an established piece in its collection of unique glassware long before archaeologists began to take more interest in Edgefield face jugs about 20 years ago, says Autenreith. Of the authentic Edgefield pieces known, the jug in the Houston’s collection is one of only 150 face jugs on record, she adds. The remainder occupy shelves in establishments like the National Museum of American History and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“I’m thrilled about sharing the face jug [with the public],” Autenreith says. “To me, it’s just one of the most cool things that we have.”
She encourages anyone interested in seeing the jug to come out for the museum’s July 22 event at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre with African-American potter Jim McDowell, when the piece will be on display. The piece will not be among the permanent exhibit at the Houston Museum, but visitors will also be able to see it there upon request.
“I hope people get excited enough to come out,” Autenreith says. “This is one of few. And it’s right here in Chattanooga.”
“The Black Potter”
Houston Museum will honor the history of face jugs with two events featuring Jim McDowell, an African-American potter who was inspired to adopt the art form by his family’s oral tradition. Dubbed “The Black Potter,” McDowell pours his stored-up emotions about discrimination and civil rights into his art, producing face jugs with stained glass streaming down the cheeks like tears or a cigar between the lips as a symbol of defiance. Through his work, he honors his four-times-great-aunt, a Jamaican slave potter who handed down a verbal account of the vessels.
When: Saturday, July 21; 3 p.m.
Where: Scenic City Clay Arts
Children will join Jim McDowell and the Houston Museum’s Lilly Waters to create and learn about face jugs and traditional clay art techniques.
$10 per child, ages 11-14
Limited to 30 children
When: Sunday, July 22; 2 p.m.
Where: Chattanooga Theatre Centre
Jim McDowell will present a one-man performance that tells the history of face jugs and the story of Dave Drake, a literate and highly skilled slave in the Edgefield District of South Carolina who risked punishment to create pottery inscribed with poetry or sentiments. McDowell’s pieces will be available for purchase.
$15 per person, $10 for Houston members