Bidspirit auction | Southern US Salt-Glazed Stoneware 2-Gallon

Southern US Salt-Glazed Stoneware 2-Gallon Lug Jar - 14 inches. This salt-glazed stoneware jar, likely intended for use as a butter churn, features a tall, cylindrical body that tapers slightly toward the base. The vessel is constructed with a wide, flared rim and two integral, opposing lug handles applied to the shoulder. The interior of the jar exhibits prominent horizontal throwing ridges from the potter's wheel. The exterior is finished with a salt glaze that displays a characteristic orange peel texture. The surface is decorated with numerous iron spots, often referred to as turkey droppings in the context of Southern stoneware, which were created by mineral reactions during the firing process. An incised character representing the number 2 is located beneath one of the lug handles, indicating a two-gallon capacity. The style, glaze, and decoration are consistent with 19th-century utilitarian pottery from the Southern United States, particularly the Piedmont region of North Carolina. No maker's stamps or signatures are visible on the body or the unglazed base