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Jug with Rattlesnake

American Art Museum

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    Object Details

    Artist

    Michael Crocker, born Lula, GA 1956
    Melvin Crocker, born Lula, GA 1959

    Luce Center Label

    Working with his brother Melvin, Michael Crocker created face jugs, grape pitchers, and snake jugs from local clay and handmade glazes. They started with traditional forms and in Michaels words "pushed them to the limit." (Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Contemporary American Folk Art: A Collector's Guide, 1996) In this piece the snake becomes much more than just decoration. Michael threw the hollow form, and Melvin then modeled the rattlesnake and coiled it around the pot. The brothers worked together until 1999, when Melvin left to set up his own shop.

    Credit Line

    Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase

    Date

    1994

    Object number

    1997.124.152

    Restrictions & Rights

    Usage conditions apply

    Type

    Decorative Arts-Ceramic
    Folk Art

    Medium

    fired and glazed clay

    Dimensions

    12 5/8 x 9 3/4 x 10 5/8 in. (32.1 x 24.8 x 27.0 cm)

    See more items in

    Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

    Department

    Decorative Arts

    On View

    Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 28B
    Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
    Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor

    Data Source

    Smithsonian American Art Museum

    Topic

    Animal\reptile\snake

    Metadata Usage

    Not determined

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7eb78182e-1387-4a6b-bd6e-2147469bce09

    Record ID

    saam_1997.124.152

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