NC Face Jugs Face Jug History Face Jugs

NC Face Jugs

Face Jug History Face Jugs are pieces of pottery that show a face with an emotion. The emotions are shown through the exaggerated facial features. Face Jugs date back all the way to the 1800’s from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. They were made by the African American slaves in the mid 1800’s and are believed to be used for practical or spiritual uses. Practical uses such as holding and pouring liquids and spiritual uses such as grave markers or scaring evil spirits from homes.

Catawba County Potters In the 18 th century, German settlers in Pennsylvania came down to Catawba County here in NC. They found the red clay here was similar to what they made their pottery from.

Why Emotion? Why do artists use emotion for inspiration? Why do you think the potters put faces on their mugs/jugs?

Emotion We use our facial features to show emotion. What happens to our eyes, eyebrows, mouths, noses when we feel a certain way? Exaggeration of the features is important in the face jugs so the particular emotion was clear. What facial features are exaggerated in the guy on the left?

Assignment Choose an emotion for your face jug. Write that emotion on your sketchbook paper. Draw a sketch for your clay face jug. How can you BEST represent your emotion? Exaggerate the features! **IF extra time - Color ONLY the features.