A wonderful example of "Sewer Tile Art", this lamb dates from the late 19th century, a time when many US pottery companies closed, forcing workers to find alternative income sources. Many potters found themselves working for companies that made sewer pipes and drainage tiles. In the truest tradition of folk art, ceramic pieces such as this lamb, were created by workers after hours in an attempt to reconnect with their creative roots. These potters turned to utilitarian materials in the creation of the figures. The majority of these figures, such as this lamb, were cast in molds and influenced by English Staffordshire techniques.