Face Flask 1820 - 1835

The "Face Flask" is a unique example of American folk art created sometime between 1820 and 1835 by an unknown artist. This small, ceramic vessel is shaped like a human face with exaggerated features, including a wide mouth and large eyes. The brown and tan glaze creates a striking contrast, adding to the expressive quality of the piece. The flask's functional purpose, as well as its intended audience, remains a subject of ongoing debate among art historians. This peculiar work, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies the ingenuity and creative spirit of early American potters.