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Condition: Pre-owned handmade pottery piece with age/use-related surface wear and one noticeable chip along the lower exterior, as clearly shown in the photos. No cracks were found. There are scattered white specks/residue on the exterior of unknown origin. This piece was acquired in its present condition and has not been washed or cleaned, so I have made no attempt to remove the specks, residue, discoloration, or other surface material. Please examine all photos closely for the exact condition.
Very unusual signed handmade studio pottery face mug featuring a wonderfully bizarre, highly dimensional character face.
The front is extensively sculpted with individually formed facial features including bulging asymmetrical eyes, a long dimensional nose, pronounced cheeks, mustache, mouth, chin, and large protruding white teeth. The exaggerated expression gives the piece a distinctive grotesque or “ugly face” folk-art character.
The pottery has a rustic brown and tan coloration with darker accents throughout the facial details and surface. The irregular texture, coloration, sculpting and intentionally primitive appearance give the mug considerable character. The interior is glazed in a lighter mottled tone.
A large applied handle is incorporated into one side.
The underside is hand signed/incised by the artist, although I have been unable to confidently decipher the signature. Please see the close-up photograph of the bottom and use your own judgment regarding the maker. I am selling this as an unidentified signed studio pottery piece and am making no attribution to a particular artist, pottery, region or period.
This is an especially interesting example because of the amount of sculptural detail in the face. The separate teeth, deeply modeled facial features, irregular eyes and heavily textured finish give it considerably more personality than a simple molded or painted novelty face mug.
A standard soda can is shown in one photograph strictly for an approximate visual size comparison.
Because the maker has not been identified, I have not attempted to assign an exact age to the piece.
Please review all photographs, including the close-ups of the face, surface, chip, reverse, underside/signature and interior. The photos are an important part of the condition description.
An unusual piece of signed American-style folk/studio pottery that would make a great addition to a collection of face mugs, face jugs, outsider art, primitive pottery, grotesque character pottery or one-of-a-kind studio ceramics.
