EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: 19th Century Stoneware Temperance Jug from the Bray Pottery in Evansville, Indiana

Thursday, November 14, 2019

19th Century Stoneware Temperance Jug from the Bray Pottery in Evansville, Indiana

Nineteenth century temperance jugs are most recognizable today from the Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick Pottery in Anna, Illinois; however, this type of production is also found with other Midwestern potters, such as documented examples from Indiana and Missouri, as well as businesses elsewhere in America.

This particular stoneware jug sold at Case Antiques in Knoxville, Tennessee in August 2017. The jug is incised allover, creating a tree bark appearance; it is also decorated with a hand modeled monkey, a lizard, a snake and a turtle. The side of the jug is incised, "B. / 1885," and the base is signed, "Bray / 1885."

The jug is attributed to Simeon Lewis Bray (1849-1914) in Evansville, Indiana, who was born in Blackstone near Worcester, Massachusetts in 1849, but moved with his family at a young age to Wisconsin. Although, he and his brother, William Bray lived in Anna for many years, likely apprenticing or working at the Kirkpatrick Pottery. Afterwards, they relocated more than 100 miles west establishing a pottery in Evansville in the mid-1870s, possibly attracted to the thriving river trade along the Ohio River.

This example may be one of the better known temperance jugs from the Bray pottery, where some of the other examples appear like those made in Anna. Simeon and William were likely introduced to this type of production in the early-1870s when it first became popular with the Kirkpatrick brothers. This example is a little more unique in its form and appearance than some of the other known examples, which are all extraordinary survivors and extremely rare objects to find today.

According to Case Antiques, "Simeon married Martha Scher on January 27, 1876 in Evansville, and remained in the area until at least 1901. By 1910 he is working in St. Louis, Missouri as a potter. Simeon died there in 1914, but was buried in Evansville."

Simeon was also involved with all sorts of patents while working in Evansville, some related to pottery production, while others were unrelated. For example, I have posted a patent below for a fruit jar holder that was published in 1901. He is also listed as a general contractor in the Evansville City Director throughout the 1890s.

Temperance Jug from Evansville, Indiana