Medium
Alkaline-glazed stoneware
Dimensions
Height: 22 5/8 in. (57.5 cm); diameter: 27 in. (68.6 cm); circumference (widest): 72 in. (182.9 cm); 82 lbs (37.2 kg); approximately 25 gallon capacity
Classification
Storage jar
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Ronald S. Kane Bequest, in memory of Berry B. Tracy, 2020
Accession Number
2020.7
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This monumental storage jar, crafted in 1858 by Dave—later recorded as David Drake—at the Stony Bluff Manuf, exemplifies the robust tradition of American stoneware pottery from the antebellum South. Measuring an impressive 22⅝ inches tall with a 27-inch diameter weighing 82 pounds, it boasts a staggering 25-gallon capacity, designed for practical farm use like storing foodstuffs or liquids. The alkaline glaze, made from wood ash and applied to the durable stoneware body, produces a glossy, mottled finish that was both functional—resistant to acids and leaks—and visually striking. Dave, an enslaved potter working in South Carolina's Edgefield District, was renowned for his technical mastery and the sheer scale of his vessels, pushing the limits of wheel-thrown ceramics. Produced at Stony Bluff, this jar reflects the industrial pottery output of the region, where such large forms were essential to agrarian life. Its presence in The American Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art highlights the ingenuity of African American artisans in 19th-century America, bridging utility and artistry in everyday objects. Fun fact: At its widest, the jar's 72-inch circumference rivals a hula hoop—imagine the skill required to throw and fire such a giant without modern tools!
About the Artist
Dave (later recorded as David Drake)|Stony Bluff Manufactory (American| ) · 1801 | –1870 |
American, ca. 1801–1870s|