Southern Folk Pottery Tradition

What makes Southern Pots so neat and collectable? That’s a fair question to ask. The connection to the earth and history appear to be the obvious answers to us. Also the connections with others in the community are genuine and vary greatly. There’s no one definition of a collector. Some examples of the wide variety included in this section are contemporary face and snake jugs.

Face jugs date back to the 19th century of face jugs made by slave potters in Edgefield. Serious additions/expansion to this tradition really can be credited to Brown Pottery in Buncombe County, NC. Snake jugs have some association with Ohio and Illinois traditions and appear in the south in the 20th century, being made particularly popular by the potters of the Catawba Valley such as Burlon Craig.

We have featured the following for a demonstration of the variety and unique folk art that each face and/or snake present.

2001

Clint Alderman Indian Face Jug

Clint pots and also paints in Georgia. He follows the tradition of the Georgia potters, digging his own clay, using a foot tread wheel, and wood-firing alkaline glazes. The Indian face has some connection also to the Crocker brothers.

2007

Kevin Turkey Merck Face Jug

Turkey recently began his own operation after working with potter Wayne Hewell. He resides in Georgia, also being a full-time teacher. He is particularly known for his creativity in presentation and deep furrowed faces and other forms. His recent monumental roosters are of particular note.

2003

Phil Morgan Crystalline Face Jug

Phil has been one of the pillars of the Seagrove pottery community for the better part of 4 decades. His trademark crystalline glazed pots bring pottery of the North Carolina piedmont to a whole other level. At times he mixes his high art with faces and this great folk art is created.

1997

Stacy Lambert Snake Face Jug

Stacy completely transforms the southern pottery tradition where he pots near Asheboro, NC. Truly unique to him, his painted and poem graced pots and figurines, are widely collected. This combination piece is from early in his pottery career is a great example.

2005

Walter Fleming Snake Jug

Walter has turned pottery now over two decades in the Catawba Valley near Statesville. He learned a thing or two from Burlon Craig, although he has embraced his own style for sure. This snake on the jug also functions as the handle, an uncommon form to him. Simple, very attractive pots, including swirl, are his mainstay.