The name John Lewis Stone (1850-1927) may not be as well known today as the Kirkpatrick Brothers production in Anna, Illinois, although Stone also produced stoneware temperance jugs in Texas, similar to those made in Anna, which are found in major private collections and well-known art museums around the country today. Although, I feel the most significant of all the temperance jugs is one that was made in Anna and displayed at the New York Historical Society in Manhattan, which I have also written about a number of times on this website.
According to an article posted to Crocker Farm's online blog on January 23, 2010, Crocker Farm Magazine, where a temperance jug made by Stone was discussed from the Kelly Young (1933-2009) Collection in a post titled, The Anna Pottery School: Texas Stoneware Snake Jug by John L. Stone: "Born on May 18, 1850 in Union County, Kentucky, Stone was potting in Limestone County, Texas, by the time he was twenty years old - where, according to the 1870 Federal Census, he was clearly working with an Illinois-born potter named William C. Knox. Knox probably trained in Illinois as a potter, but then spent sometime in Kentucky before moving to Hempstead, Texas. In 1880, Stone was one of about seventeen potters or pottery workers operating in Kosse, Texas."
There are only a small group of temperance jugs known from Stone today, and not all of them were made in Kosse, and perhaps the best-known of those is one displayed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston that was made by Stone in Oletha, Texas, circa 1869-1874. However, there are others known, some of which have sold through Crocker Farm over the past twelve years.
Interestingly, though, this temperance jug made by Stone was recently sold by Matthew Bullock Auctioneers in Ottawa, Illinois. The jug was marked on various spots "J.F. Johnson & J.W. Dillon / MANUFACTURER / OF / ALL KINDS OF / STONEWARE / Kosse Texas" - "MADE & PRESENTED TO THE Fire Brick & Tile Company By J.L. Stone" - "Timse's Best."
Furthermore, according Matthew Bullock, "It is unclear whether or not such vessels were actually made in support of the Temperance Movement, serving to warn people of alcohol's dangerous results. Many agree today that such jugs were more light-hearted in tone and did not actually intend to deter casual drinking. A small number of Stone's stoneware products have survived, indicating he was apt potter and creative folk artist with a style similar to the Kirkpatrick brothers of Anna. In fact, a 1923 passport application by potter John L. Stone includes a notarized statement by Cornwall Kirkpatrick's son, demonstrating an apparent lifelong friendship between Stone and the Kirkpatricks."
Even though this jug did have some restoration - it sold for $15,000 plus the auction premium.
A Rare 19th Century Stoneware Temperance Jug from Kosse, Texas
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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