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Enormous BURLON CRAIG North Carolina Pottery Face Jug
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Enormous BURLON CRAIG North Carolina Pottery Face Jug
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Terry Zug, author of "Turners and Burners: the Folk Potters of North Carolina" credits Burlon Craig (born 1914 - died 2002) with having been the single remaining link between the Catawba Valley potters of today and the heritage of traditional folk pottery that went back 200 years in that region. His famous folk art large face jugs, such as the huge two-handled example up for auction today, evolved from the large utilitarian crocks and jugs that he learned to make in his younger years. This two-handled huge face jug holds 5 gallons of liquid (with room for a few ounces more). It bears the quite scarce incised signature on the reverse reading "B. B. CRAIG HENRY N.C." Other highlights of the piece include the dramatic light grayish blue glass drips cascading down from each ear and from behind each handle (similar in a way to the crying eye variety concept, but perhaps we'll have to call this the swimmer's ear variety instead). Other features to note include the four parallel sine waves circling the piece below the signature, the five china plate teeth, the bulging eyes with their dark blue pupils, the glossy glaze with its high content of crushed glass, and the flashes of blue color appearing in the glaze. Burlon Craig used centuries-old wood-firing techniques and he did not bisque fire his pieces prior to the wood firing, so it is actually not too unusual to find drying lines in many of his wares. Large pieces in particular have variations in moisture content that can lead to such firing lines. This face jug does have its share of firing lines and firing separations as I've shown in close-up photos and as I'll summarize A firing line runs from the base region of each handle to the nearest eyebrow. Several other firing lines connect the eyebrows and the eyes. As you face the jug, the handle to your left has a short horizontal firing line on its front side, a firing separation on its top surface, and a couple of short firing lines on its back side. The handle to your right has a firing separation running about 3/4 of its length on the front side and another firing separation running about 1/3 of its length on the back side (these two separations are not connected). Everything is as made, and while I certainly won't claim that any of these firing lines add to the charm of the piece, it's worth noting that large face jugs of this type with even more drastic firing effects (for example, blown off eyes or lips) have appeared at regional auctions and still have been met with spirited bidding. This piece, with all facial appendages still present and accounted for and no post-production damage, stands an impressive 18 1/2 inches tall, with a maximum width over 12 inches. Offered with no reserve and an extremely low opening bid for a wide open auction and a nice chance to acquire a piece with impressive glass runs and the scarce HENRY N.C. signature. I accept money orders, personal checks, and PayPal. T will be a $25 charge for shipping by fully insured UPS Ground for this item due to its large size and weight (it weighs over 15 pounds before wrapping), and the face jug will be carefully bubble-wrapped and double-boxed to ensure safe delivery. UPS will charge me more than $25, but I will cover the difference, and I'd be happy to try to arrange pick-up or personal delivery within a 3-hour radius of Chapel Hill if the winning bidder would like to avoid the shipping charge. I'll contact the winning bidder by e-mail shortly after the conclusion of the auction. Good luck!
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