Marvin Popcorn Sutton
SOLD>> Second in a limited edition ... This one is made by Maggie and Freeman.
The Southern Folk Art Face Jug is an item from a tradition that has been around for several hundred years.
There are several stories of it's origin ranging from the ugly moonshine jug to scare the kids away from it's contents, or the "devil jug" or "booger pot" to keep the devil away from the grave site. Slaves were often not allowed to have proper grave markers so the face jugs were made. It has also been said that the face jug was set next to the grave site and if it survived the winter it meant the deceased had gone to Heaven.
Recent years have brought the tradition to a popular production. Anything from the ugliest devil head to the humorous, muppet style face jugs are being made.
Keep in mind, also, that potter's have always referred to parts of pottery in relation to the human form... Mouth, Lip, Neck, Shoulder, Belly, Foot. The glaze is considered a skin. When two pieces fuse in the hot kiln it is called a kiss. Accidents in the kiln produce scars and even the clay formula is referred to as a "clay body".
The cigarette was an eternal fixture in his mouth....
