Artist Unknown
Albany Slip Jug, n.d.
Not on view
Ceramic
Dimensions9 1/2 × 7 5/8 in. (24.1 × 19.4 cm)
Gift of Sidney Swidler, 2017.152
This vase gets its dark color from slip, a thin glaze made by mixing clay with water that is applied to ceramics before firing. Albany slip comes from natural glacial clay deposits in Albany, New York and was popular in the early 19th century. High in iron, it produced a deep brown or black color and was valued for its soft, satin quality. Both durable and decorative, Albany slip melted smoothly to form an impermeable glass-like coating which made it perfect for vessels that stored liquids. Its popularity spread with expansion of the railroad system but decreased in the 20th century.
