Face Jugs

Face jugs or Jugheads were probably first made in the early 1800's in the Carolinas. Using a potter's wheel the jugs were turned and then adorned with grotesque faces. The faces might have bits of porcelain or rocks as eyes and teeth.

The purpose of the original face jugs is not known. However, potter Jim McDowell (www.blackpotter.com) has a facinating theory based on his family history.Jim's forth great Aunt Evangeline was a village slave potter in Jamaica. She made face jugs. The story handed down from her explains that since slaves were not allowed to have tombstones pottery or face jugs served as a grave marker. The ugly faces came from a belief system which included ancestor worship, voodoo and Christianity. The face had to be ugly to scare away the devil so the departed could go to heaven. Another theory was that adults kept their moonshine in ugly face jugs. The scary face was meant to keep children away from the contents.

Face jugs are still being produced today. I suggest you google,face jugs, and go to images to see the remarkable variety of face jugs. Don't take it too hard if one happens to look like you.



This piece, above, is made of stoneware, attributed to Bath, (Aiken County), South Carolina, second half of the 19th century. On March 5, 2012 it was auctioned for $56,287.50.




Tranny Jug and Hobo Jug by Alex Irvine



---Lynn Conaway