Southern Face Jugs

I have been saving this photo for over a year, just so I could bring it out for Halloween 2019. . .and then. . .I almost forgot about it. . .

I have been interested in Southern face jugs for many years but could never afford them. . .Then I ran across this beauty (?) that was in my price range. . .To tell the truth, the owner probably hated it and didn't know its value. . .but I was more than happy to bring it home. . .

So. . .now I have one. . .just one. . .

"Though there are many gaps in historical data regarding the making, use and meaning of the face vessel pottery, there is no doubt that the vessels were original, functional artistic expressions of the African slave culture of the time. This all adds to the mystery of possible deeper meaning of the Face Vessels in the slave culture. Few of the skilled potters who made Face Vessels have been identified by name and their inspiration for making face vessels is really unknown. Researchers speculate that the vessels may have had religious or burial significance, or that they reflect the complex responses of people attempting to live and maintain their personal identities under cruel and often difficult conditions. Face Vessels have been found along the routes of the Underground Railroad and on gravesites, both indicating how highly they were valued and how closely connected they were with the enslaved African American’s own culture.

The making of southern face jugs is a ceramic tradition that has been dated back to the 1840's. This pottery tradition continues to be of significant interest for many contemporary potters living in the South. Sometimes known as "ugly or grotesque jugs" face jugs were thought to have begun in Edgefield county South Carolina by African slaves who worked on the plantations as potters. These potters would work on the face jugs after the work of making functional pottery such as churns and storage jars was finished for the day. Many historians believe there may have been a spiritual connection to the face jug for these potters.

Many of the early pieces were small in scale, from 4 to 4 and a half inches. They were thrown on the wheel in the harvest jug style where there is an overhead strap handle on the body of the pot off set with one or more spouts. Teeth and eyes were made from white kaolin clay to contrast the darker color of the stoneware clay. These early pieces were glazed with alkaline glazes and fired in large wood burning kilns along with the potter’s functional ware.

In the early part of the 19th century the form was adopted by white potters. This can be attributed to the downturn in profit for the white potters from the everyday items such as churns and storage jars. This was probably due to the major influx of cheaper mass produced ware being imported from the northern factories. To avoid going out of business the potters started making unique items such as miniatures and face jugs. These items helped to keep the potters from closing down since they appealed to the tourist trade.

There has been a continuum in the interest of face jugs throughout the 20th century primarily centered on two prominent potters, Burlon Craig and Lanier Meaders. However it wasn't until the 1970's when there was an upscale interest in American Folk lore by university academics that the work of Craig and Meaders were exposed to a larger American audience. The popularity of these two potters surged and the face jug as an art form along with interest in its history experienced a renaissance." from www.newton.k12.in.us

Wishing You a Happy Halloween. . .From Our Spooky Heil House. . .

 

Happy Fall Ya'll

Hey, Ya'll! It's Fall. . .Sorry. . .I just had to say that. . .I don't think anyone has slept through that fact. . .because everywhere I turn there are pumpkins. . .squash. . .gold and orange leaves. . .And, you can't deny that it feels like Fall now, too. . .Really cool mornings. . .Short days. . .and lots of wind. . .

But, I had to say "Fall Ya'll". . .because everywhere I go, the people around here comment on my Southern drawl. . .Not too many Southern belles around, I guess?. . .Even though Ste. Genevieve is the oldest permanent French settlement in Missouri, most of the present-day population is of German descent. . .I do comment every now and then that they are the ones with the accent. . .not me. . .Some still speak German. . .I'm really lost then. . .But. . .most just laugh at my comments. . .and tell me how "charming" I am. .

I can't help myself. . .I greet everyone with a "Happy Fall Ya'll". . .and often giggle at their reaction. . .It almost always starts a conversation. . .

Main Street this time of the year is pretty busy with visitors on the weekend. . .Our house sits on a block between two large bed and breakfasts. . .and three eating places. . .with some shopping in between. . .It's a wonderful opportunity to greet everyone as if I'm a local. . .but the minute my first words are spoken. . .they suspect I'm not. ..

Okay. . .I'm not a local. . .To most who are, I will never be one of them. . .not with my accent anyway. . .But, that's fine with me. . .

I've always felt that I was Southern by the Grace of God. . .and I have no desire to change it. . .

Little by little, we are turning our Heil House back to the look of the 18th century. . .I found a big barrel and some wooden shipping crates. . .We masquerade as an old French trading post. . .the owner being Mssr. B. J. La Shay, who in real life is our house cat. . .He greets people with a Southern meow as he suns in the window. . .

If you'll notice. . .John gave the brick a new coat of paint this summer. . .It looks so much better. . .and there's another good thing about decorating for Fall at this house. . .the color scheme of gold and dark red are perfect. . .

Last weekend it was Spook-tacular in Downtown Ste. Gen. . .There were hundreds of costumed children Trick or Treating Saturday afternoon. . .At Sassafras Creek Originals, Kandye greeted them in an 18th century costume but made (by her) of Halloween fabrics. . .She was certainly in the spirit. . .

What fun the entire day was. . .

What fun it is living here in our second home. . .no matter the season. . .and I don't mind making people smile. . .not one bit. . .

Making Herbal Wreaths At The Felix Valle State Park

It was a gorgeous day Friday. . .Cool and Sunny. . .Much better weather than the day before when we had initially set as the day to make wreaths. . .Thursday it was threatening rain. . .and hot. . .very hot for this time of year. . .

John and I dressed in 18th century clothing. . .grabbed the vintage baskets. . .and headed just two and a half blocks away. . .to begin making herbal culinary wreaths. . .One to leave at the Felix Vallee. . .One for ourselves. . .(of course). . .

It took a little longer for the first one. . .Deciding which herbs we wanted to use was difficult. . .They were all amazing and fragrant. . .and John was playing photographer for Country Rustic magazine. . .I had to stop my busy hands and 'pose' a few times. . .

For the first wreath, we chose rosemary, sage, oregano, tarragon, and lemon balm, filling in spaces with yarrow. . .

By noon, we were starved. . .It smelled like Thanksgiving dinner all morning long in the  wash house and made us hungry. . .So we decided to have some lunch and return later. . .

Back at work, John beat me to the second one. . .so I turned the tables on him and became the photographer. . .It was his first wreath. . .and turned out great. . .He chose rosemary, tarragon, sage, lemon verbena and yarrow. . . 

Did the colonial French make culinary wreaths? . .I haven't found documentation. . .but they did dry herbs and used them in their cooking. . .Thanks to Donna's knowledge of the herbs she planted, we felt very confident that we chose those which were authentic to time. . .

The wreaths will be kept out of the light and on a flat surface until dry. . .Then they will be ready for our open hearth and fire cooking this Fall and Winter with recipes from the past. . .Rosemary chicken, gumbos, soups and stews. . .

Oh My. . .I'm hungry again!!!