Anna Pottery: Rare Illinois Stoneware & Folk Art
What Is Anna Pottery?
Anna Pottery was operated by brothers Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick in Anna, Illinois, from 1859 to approximately 1894. The pottery produced utilitarian stoneware alongside highly distinctive folk art pieces that are now among the most sought-after examples of American folk pottery. The Kirkpatrick brothers are famous for their elaborately modeled pieces, including snake-adorned jugs, political flasks, pig-shaped whiskey bottles, and other whimsical forms decorated with applied snakes, frogs, and inscriptions.
Anna Pottery pieces are rare, with only a few hundred documented examples surviving. Museum-quality pieces regularly appear at major American folk art auctions, where they command substantial prices that reflect their importance in the history of American ceramics.
Identifying Anna Pottery
Characteristic Features
- Salt-glazed stoneware body, typically gray or brown
- Applied three-dimensional decoration - Snakes, frogs, turtles, and other creatures modeled and attached to vessel surfaces
- Inscribed text - Political commentary, temperance messages, and advertising slogans scratched into the clay
- Pig bottles - Flask-shaped vessels modeled as pigs, often with railroad maps incised on the surface
- Albany slip glaze on interiors and sometimes exteriors
Marks and Attribution
- "ANNA POTTERY" or "ANNA ILL" impressed or incised
- "KIRKPATRICK" name occasionally appears
- Many pieces are attributed by style rather than mark, as not all were marked
- The Kirkpatrick brothers' distinctive modeling style is recognizable once studied
Key Forms
- Snake jugs - Utilitarian jugs covered with applied snakes and sometimes other creatures
- Pig flasks - The most famous form; pig-shaped bottles with incised railroad maps
- Political flasks - Bottles with political commentary and caricatures
- Drain tile figures - Whimsical sculptures made from drainage tile clay
- Utilitarian wares - Standard crocks, jugs, and jars (less valuable but still collectible)
Auction Prices and Market Values
| Form | Typical Range | Exceptional Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Utilitarian jug or crock (marked) | $300-$1,000 | $3,000+ |
| Snake jug (small, simple) | $2,000-$8,000 | $20,000+ |
| Snake jug (large, elaborate) | $8,000-$30,000 | $80,000+ |
| Pig flask with railroad map | $10,000-$40,000 | $100,000+ |
| Political or temperance flask | $5,000-$20,000 | $60,000+ |
| Drain tile figure | $1,000-$5,000 | $15,000+ |
| Small novelty piece | $500-$3,000 | $10,000+ |
Anna Pottery pig flasks have brought six-figure prices at major folk art auctions including Crocker Farm and Skinner. A single exceptional pig flask can exceed $100,000.
Condition Factors That Affect Value
- Cracks reduce value but are tolerated more than in many pottery categories due to extreme rarity
- Missing applied elements (snakes, frogs) significantly reduce value
- Chips to rims and bases are common and mildly reduce value
- Inscription legibility matters on political and railroad map pieces
- Completeness of decoration - Pieces with intact, elaborate applied decoration command the highest premiums
- Repairs should be professionally done and disclosed; even repaired pieces hold substantial value given rarity
Collecting Tips
Entry Points
Marked utilitarian Anna Pottery pieces occasionally appear for $300-$1,000, offering authenticated entry into this rarefied category. Fragments and damaged pieces also trade among serious collectors.
Building a Collection
- Folk art context - Anna Pottery fits within broader American folk pottery collecting (alongside Galena, face jugs, and other regional traditions)
- Institutional interest - Museums actively seek Anna Pottery, creating competition that supports values
- Documentation - Every piece should be thoroughly photographed and documented; published examples have enhanced provenance
Authentication
- Consult published references, particularly Anna Pottery: Stoneware Classics by Gary R. Baker
- Crocker Farm auction house is the leading specialist in American stoneware and maintains extensive records
- The distinctive clay body and glaze characteristics of Anna Pottery require hands-on familiarity to authenticate
- Given the high values involved, expert authentication is essential before significant purchases