These are two nineteenth century southern alkaline glazed stoneware jugs that I believe are related - the larger jug is marked with an inscribed number “2,” which most likely represents two gallons. And even though the smaller jug does not bear a number inscription, I believe it is most likely one gallon in capacity. The jugs were made with very similar rims, have very similar handles and are made from the same colored clay.
I found the larger jug a few years ago at a flea market in New York City, whereas the smaller jug was discovered more recently in Southeastern Massachusetts. Both jugs are covered in a runny alkaline glaze, which looks great in direct sunlight!
However, the place of manufacture for these jugs is currently unknown to me, but they are made from a reddish colored clay that is comparable to some stoneware made in places like Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina and perhaps other areas in the South.
In fact, when I purchased the larger jug - the New York City flea market dealer told me that he had found it in the South and he thought it may have been made in Tennessee, although I have not found any comparable objects in museum collections, previous auction results or published in books that support a Tennessee attribution.
Nonetheless -- does anyone reading this article have any ideas about a possible place of manufacture? As I have previously noted, these pictures were taken last week as the sun was setting along the Merrimack River in Newburyport, Massachusetts, although in better direct lighting the glaze runs are easy to see how much they cover each jug.
Two 19th Century Alkaline Glazed Southern Stoneware Jugs
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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