A Tribute to the "Edgefield Potters"

This huge jug will be a part of a permanent exhibit in Edgefield SC. It and the "Dave" piece will be presented to the Piedmont Technical College in Edgefield on July 20, 2006 .

I have collaborated with Leonard Todd on both pieces. Leonard is writing a book about the life of Dave. For this piece, he presented me with a list the 90 of free men and slaves who made pottery in Edgefield in the 1800's. One name is very special to me: Charles H. Ferguson. His descendants are still making pottery today in Gillsville , Georgia. I was so pleased to see that name.

I took these pieces to the North Georgia Potters Festival June 17 and was proud to show Stanley Ferguson his ancestors name on the piece. He told me that Charles was as far back as they could find here before crossing the Atlantic and going to Ireland. Stanley's daughter, Jamie, is making pottery and I think she would be the 6th generation of pottery makers in the family. It was such an honor to make this piece.

It is a collage of Edgefield potters. In the center is the only known image of any of them: Dr. Abner Landrum, the father of the Alkaline glaze recipe in the south. Below his portrait is a poem Dave wrote for him: "When Noble Dr Landrum is dead / May Guardian angels visit his bed - 14 April 1859".

The Colin Rhodes flowers indicate the capacity is 15 gallons. The shape itself is comparable to the wedding jug in the High Museum. On the back is the decoration used on the wedding jug and stamped "Phoenix Factory ED:SC".

Under the 90 names are Thomas Chandler Swags and Loops. It is 28 inches tall and 16 inches across. Number 1 is to be donated and Number 2 is sold and Numbers 3 + are available.