Folk Art Pottery: Ugly Folk Art Pottery: Ugly Face JugsFace Jugs

History of the Face JugHistory of the Face Jug

The tradition is that because slaves The tradition is that because slaves weren’t allowed to have grave weren’t allowed to have grave markers, the family would place markers, the family would place personal items and an ugly face jug personal items and an ugly face jug on the grave. This was a way to on the grave. This was a way to show reverence and also was show reverence and also was supposed to scare evil spirits away supposed to scare evil spirits away from the area. from the area.

The jugs were made by The jugs were made by African potters who wereAfrican potters who were

first taken to the Caribbean first taken to the Caribbean islands, and thenislands, and then

brought to the American brought to the American south. south.

There is no written history There is no written history of the origin or useof the origin or use

of ugly face jugs. The of ugly face jugs. The stories have been handed stories have been handed down from generation to down from generation to generation. generation.

Jugs created by Clayton Bail.

One modern maker of face jugs is Jim One modern maker of face jugs is Jim McDowell.McDowell.

Mr. McDowell has been making face jugs for more than 15 years. A coal-miner-turned- artist, he makes the jugs as a tribute to black history and his own family heritage.

His great-great-great-aunt Evangeline was a slave potter in Jamaica.

McDowell adds stained glass to some of the McDowell adds stained glass to some of the jugs, so that when it melts it looks like tears.jugs, so that when it melts it looks like tears.

Here’s another face jug. The teeth are often made from pieces of broken plates.

Some jugs have gouges in the cheeks or pockmarks, which McDowell says alludes to some African tribal practices in which the face is scarred to denote status and is considered a sign of beauty.

Mr. McDowell adds short sayings to his Mr. McDowell adds short sayings to his jugs. On the left side, he writes an anti-jugs. On the left side, he writes an anti-

slavery sentiment, and the other side slavery sentiment, and the other side something relevant to today.something relevant to today.

For example, on one For example, on one jugjug

It reads, “Follow the It reads, “Follow the North North

Star” on the left.Star” on the left.

On the right side it On the right side it sayssays

““9-11, Don’t Forget.”9-11, Don’t Forget.”This jug says, “Don’t judge the color of my skin, judge me by the content of my character.”

Here is a striped jug, and a tall blue one. Here is a striped jug, and a tall blue one. These were made by artists other than Jim These were made by artists other than Jim

McDowell.McDowell.

This whistling jug has bluebirds on it.

Here are two more face jugs. The one Here are two more face jugs. The one on the right is a birdhouse.on the right is a birdhouse.

These whistling jugs were created by Brian Wilson.

There are many other artists There are many other artists who create face jugs. To find who create face jugs. To find out about them, do an internet out about them, do an internet search for “ugly face jugs”. search for “ugly face jugs”.

Photos used in this presentation were from Photos used in this presentation were from the following sites:the following sites:www.blackpotter.comwww.blackpotter.com www.clayplace.comwww.clayplace.com/review/review