19th Century Stoneware Syrup Jug with a Face Attributed to Murray Kirkpatrick in Illinois

While visiting a store in New England last weekend, I came across a good book that may not be well known outside of Illinois or the Midwestern region, although I had not heard of it before. The name  of the book is Arts, Crafts and Architecture in Early Illinois written by Betty Madden and published by the University of Illinois Press in 1974.

I was rather surprised while quickly scanning through the book to find a decent amount of writing devoted to nineteenth century pottery production in Illinois. And it was not just stoneware production, but it also included the state's red earthenware industry. I have always felt that the overall identity of Illinois' red earthenware production to be much greater than what is known today (at least on a national level), outside of the wares made at the industry in Galena, Illinois.

Nevertheless, I recommend the book, and I had to take a picture of this stoneware jug that is illustrated, reportedly attributed to Murray Kirkpatrick in Vermilionville, La Salle County, Illinois, who was brother to Cornwall (1814-90) and Wallace Kirkpatrick (1828-96). This was made before Cornwall and Wallace established the pottery in Anna that they are so well known for today.

According to an article written by Ellen Paul Denker for Northeast Historical Archaeology in 1980, titled, "The Kirkpatricks' Pottery, Anna, Illinois," "The Kirkpatricks did not begin their lives or careers in Anna. Cornwall, Murray, Wallace and other Kirkpatrick brothers were quite literally born into the American pottery tradition. Their father, Andrew (1788-1865) was a potter born in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1788. He married and moved to Fredericktown, Knox County, Ohio before 1814, the year of Cornwall's birth. By 1820, the family had moved again, this time to Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, where Andrew had a small red earthenware pottery.

According to Cornwall's biography, he left school at the age of 12 to begin work as a clerk and book keeper in a store. After seven years he returned home and learned the trade of potter with his father, remaining about one year, and mastering the business before the year expired. 

In 1837, he took over his father's business in Urbana. Andrew, his wife, and what children remained with them (including Wallace) moved to Vermilionville in northern Illinois. Andrew took over another pottery begun by another son John, several years earlier."

There are a number of aspects about this jug that are certainly worth noting: first and foremost, it is owned by the La Salle County Historical Museum in North Utica, Illinois, and attributed to Cornwall Kirkpatrick in Vermilionville. But it is also decorated with a face, some cobalt, and it was used as a syrup jug.

It is also fascinating to see how the production of the face and the facial expression is nearly identical to the manufacture of some of the figures that adorn the temperance jugs made by the Kirkpatricks in Anna. For example, similar  faces can be found on a temperance jug made for caricature artist, Thomas Nast (1840-1902) in 1871, which I consider to be one of the best examples of American pottery in existence, displayed by the New York Historical Society in New York City.

Note: Here is a link to an article I posted in June 2018 that describes the temperance jug made by the Kirkpatricks in Anna, Illinois, displayed at the New York Historical Society.

Stoneware Syrup Jug with a Face Attributed to Murray Kirkpatrick

19th Stoneware Syrup Jug Decorated with a Face and Cobalt Decoration

Attributed to Murray Kirkpatrick in Vermilionville, IL

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: La Salle County Historical Museum

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