Art Institute of Chicago

Mug

S. Bell and Sons

Date

1882–1900

Medium

Earthenware, slip, and lead, copper, and manganese oxide glazes

Culture

Strasburg

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Extending from Pennsylvania to Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley was a prime area for ceramic production due to its abundance of red clays. Made in Strasburg, Virginia, this mug is part of a rich history of pottery in the region; the Bell family of potters originated in the late eighteenth century. S. Bell and Sons was a maker of both stoneware and earthenware. On this mug, manganese and copper glazes produced green and brown mottled shades, which gave Shenandoah Valley pottery its distinctive aesthetic.

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