John Leopard was born in 1800 in Edgefield, South Carolina, into a family well established in the area’s pottery making tradition. He lived in Alabama before coming to Rusk County, Texas, by 1850. Prior to establishing his own pottery in Henderson, he was probably employed by James Prothro. His pots are notable for their elegantly formed profiles and carefully executed rims and handles.

The storage jars and churns attributed to Leopard are supremely elegant versions of these southern forms. The shapes taper in a long line from the shoulder to the narrow base, and the very substantial double-cavetto, or concave, rim contrasts with a narrow neck. Carefully formed lug handles thin out from the pot’s shoulder to the handle’s tip. The glazes of Leopard’s large vessels often cascade down the shoulder in dramatic patterns, as in this exceptional jar.