This is a first for me seeing that I have never purchased one of these before, although I have also never seen one either that I could likely attribute to where it was made. This is a memory jar or vase, also commonly called a "memory jug." Most of these date from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, and are often made from simple stoneware pieces. It's purpose was to memorialize an event, a place, something or someone by the objects that are attached to it. Some also have a spiritual meaning behind them. But it's considered a form of folk art today.
These are typically made out of a vessel or a container that is covered with a layer or adhesive, such as putty, cement or plaster. And then when the adhesive is still damp, objects are embedded into the surface, all of which hold sold symbolic value.
We found this example on our way to New York City a few days ago in southern Connecticut. My feeling is that the red earthenware used for this piece was possibly made at the Goodwin Brothers pottery in West Hartford, Connecticut after 1870. My reason for this is because the Etruscan form is very similar to some objects documented from this pottery during the circa 1877-1885 period.
The last picture shows some of the West Hartford production that I reference, all of which is unglazed on the exterior, glazed on the interior and manufactured from various Etruscan shapes. The form of this vase is also very similar to some of those illustrated in this image.
Nonetheless, aside from the fact that I feel I know where this red earthenware vase was manufactured, I also thought that the buttons adorned all over this piece was rather rare to find today. Most of the memory forms that I have seen through the years are typically decorated with a variety of objects, and often applied in a different style than the way this piece is decorated.
A Rare Late 19th Century Red Earthenware Memory Vase Found in Southern Connecticut
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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