Hi, Happy Halloween!

THIS IS AN AMERICAN FACE VESSEL FROM THE EDGEFIELD DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA - 1860-70. THIS VESSEL IS MADE OF HEAVY CLAY AND FEELS SOLID LIKE A STONE. THE BLACK APPEARANCE COMES FROM CRUDE FIRING FROM A FIRE - NOT A KILN. IT HAS GRIT ON IT, POSSIBLY SAND FROM A GRAVE. THE FINE LINES THROUGHOUT COULD BE FROM STRAW. THERE WERE SOME UNKNOWN BLACK POTTERS THAT WERE MAKING THESE FOR THE SLAVES. I HAVE READ ABOUT ONE OF THESE POTTERS THAT WAS KNOWN AS DAVE THE SLAVE. MANY YEARS AGO, SLAVES WERE BROUGHT IN FROM AFRICA AND WERE FIRST INTRODUCED TO VOODOO, AND THEN LATER TO CHRISTIANITY. AT THIS TIME - WHEN THEY DIED, SLAVES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A TOMBSTONE OR GRAVE MARKER. THIS VESSEL WAS THEIR GRAVE MARKER OR BURIED WITH THEM. THEIR BELIEFS WERE THAT THE FACE WOULD SCARE AWAY EVIL SPIRITS IN THE AFTERLIFE. THIS LOOKS SIMILAR TO A FACE JUG WITHOUT EARS.

THE NECKLACE AROUND THE VASE IS WHY I CONSIDER A VOODOO NECKLACE. I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON SUCH MATTERS BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE SYMBOLS THIS IS WHAT COMES TO MIND. IT IS MADE OF CARVED SKULLS AND DOLL ARMS. WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE PERSON WHO WEARS IT (HIGH PRIEST/SHAMON) ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE SPIRITUAL WORLD (SKULLS) WITH THE ARMS REACHING OUT FROM HIS WORLD TO THE THE UNDERWORLD OR SPIRITUAL. WHAT WAS THIS USED FOR? I AM GUESSING THAT HE/SHE TRIES TO INVOKE THE SPIRITS (SATAN/DEMONS) TO HELP CAST SPELLS ON INDIVIDUALS. I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE FELT MY HEAD ON FIRE - WAS A DOLL OF ME PUT IN THE FIRE? I DO KNOW THAT MANY RELIGIONS PRAY TO GOD OR OTHER BEINGS (PAGAN). I CAN SAY THAT IF ONE WAS TO WEAR IT, THEY COULD SEE OR FEEL WHAT MAY BE ON THE OTHERSIDE. DO YOU HAVE TO BE A BELIEVER TO MAKE IT WORK? THE SLAVES FOR MANY GENERATION BELIEVED IN VOODOO AS DO SOME GROUPS OR PEOPLE TODAY - LIKE HAITIANS. THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. I DON'T CONSIDER WORSHIPPING DEMONS OR CASTING OF SPELLS CHRISTIAN.

THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SEVERAL ARTICLES OF HISTORY!!