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Lot Essay
Started by Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick, brothers from Union County, Illinois, Anna Pottery operated from 1859 to 1896. While the factory primarily made utilitarian wares, whimsical complex forms such as this jug were popular, and were exhibited widely during the 19th century. The Kirkpatricks became renowned for their ability to realistically fashion all sorts of figures and animals from clay.
The writhing, coiled snakes of this jug seems to chase after the men it also depicts, who clamor in and out of the jug to avoid their bite. These figures are likely symbolic of the evils of alcohol, and of the "bite" of what lies in the jug. It may have been fashioned simply for fun and to show off the skill of the potter, or perhaps it had more serious undertones. While prohibition did not become law until 1919, the jug may reflect the growing power of the temperance movement, which was gaining strength by the 1890s through such groups as the Anti-Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
The writhing, coiled snakes of this jug seems to chase after the men it also depicts, who clamor in and out of the jug to avoid their bite. These figures are likely symbolic of the evils of alcohol, and of the "bite" of what lies in the jug. It may have been fashioned simply for fun and to show off the skill of the potter, or perhaps it had more serious undertones. While prohibition did not become law until 1919, the jug may reflect the growing power of the temperance movement, which was gaining strength by the 1890s through such groups as the Anti-Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union.