A closer looks at the buttons, treasures, pins and figures show that this is fairly old and the pottery is also obviously old. There is some loss of items that have broken off, perhaps 8 - 10 small blank spots. But the pieces that remain are incredible -- jewelry, tiny animal charms, several military themed items and a pin with the name "Lottie". I wish I knew the story behind this jug.
The only way I can possibly date this is a tiny USO pin, which would date it to the 1940s as the earliest it might have been made.
After taking this all into account, it was with some trepidation I turned over the price tag. $25. Of course I asked if they would do better and they did - $20.
The dealers had no idea what it was and had never seen anything like it before. I've never seen one in person, just an occasional piece online. Since this is so very heavy and fragile, I'm glad I didn't have to worry about the shipping.
- Memory Jug
- Circa: Possibly 1940s?
- Size: 12.5"
- Price Paid: $20.
What is a Memory Jug?
The actual piece is usually a piece of pottery covered in some sort of clay and encrusted with found treasures. Several articles mention the jugs being popular in the Victorian era, but with roots as mourning vessels found on African American graves. More information can be found on
Appalachian History
