Antique 1800's Edgefield Pottery

Description

My parents are now deceased and, as executor of the estate, I sadly must sell family items. I opened this new Ebay account for the estate. Please see my personal reviews / ratings
under the name garby_gribe.
This piece of Edgefield pottery has been in my family since the middle of the 19
th
century.
The Stevens were land owners in Edgefield County, South Carolina dating back to the late 1700’s. This piece was in the family of Elisha Lodrick Stevens prior to the Civil War. It was passed to my grandfather, M. L. Stevens and then to my mother.
Originally this piece was probably used by the family as a bean pot or preserve jar. My grandmother used it for storing sugar. Since that time it has been in a display cabinet in my mother’s home.
The jar is 6” tall and 7 ½” wide overall. The base diameter is 6 ¼” and the top diameter is 5 3/8”. The top opening is 4 ¾”. The lid is 4 3/8” in diameter. It has an applied “ear” handle. As you can see it was well used and shows wear.
According to the South Carolina Encyclopedia, “t
he term ‘Edgefield pottery’ is used to identify alkaline-glazed stoneware first produced in Edgefield District in the 1810s. Edgefield pottery blends the cultural traditions of England, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Many of the potters came from English, Irish, and German backgrounds and contributed their forms and techniques, while African American slaves and free men performed the majority of the labor-intensive tasks.”
The distinctive glaze was made of wood ash, feldspar, clay, and water and was fired in a groundhog kiln.