The shape is similar to a Greek Amphora (the general-purpose storage pottery used for thousands of years) but the work on this piece is cruder than typical of even the crudest storage containers from Greece (the lumpy look of the bottom, for example).

I vote for student art project,

No professional potter could sell that rough a piece, IMO. The applied handles are, shall we say, less than stellar. :)

Here's a collection of American stoneware, some two handled, to compare.

Your piece is, IMO, a high school project or something similar.

/tricia

This post was edited by triciae on Wed, May 15, 13 at 7:04

As usual, for some reason, on this forum - my link disappeared. :(

/t

Thank you very much for the information. What causes the red tint to show on only certain portions? Or maybe a better question would be what causes the cream color to form since it looks to be made with red clay?

Here's a very nice two handled ovoid redware jug for comparison purposes.

I used to collect American decorated stoneware but sold the collection when we moved to Mystic because of lack of display space. :(

/t

Here is a link that might be useful: Ovoid redware jug

Scroll about half way down the page...I'm afraid to edit my post or the link will disappear.

/t

Tanner - color differences are because of conditions when it was fired, or perhaps because of a glaze that was only applied in certain areas.

It might make an interesting display piece, with some dried flowers in it.

Or, a combination of different base clays.

/t

Could this be an oil lamp? After researching some stoneware oil lamps, it has the similar flared top.