You've probably seen them in
classrooms,
offices, and
homes
- they're
clay pots, about 5 inches tall, glazed in various hues
of blue with a big
cork stopper. They feature
phrases like
"
Ashes of Problem
Students", "
Retirement Fund", and "
Lottery
Tickets" in a round unglazed patch on the front. They are
most often given as
gifts (do people buy themselves clay pots
with "Ashes of... Old
Lovers/Past
Bosses/
Problem
Patients/
Obnoxious Children"? Maybe, but I'm guessing not too
often) and
displayed because they were given as gifts.
These dust collectors are available in gift stores everywhere,
and online at crafts outlets like Davlins Woods, which carries a
line of "cleverly labeled" ceramics produced by The Potters of
Iowa. T&L Stuff, a site that carries products like antenna
balls and NASCAR memorabilia, calls these "nonsense jars" and
"verbal banks"; their versions are "hand crafted by talented
California Artisans" and feature phrases like "Diet Cookie Jar"
and "Poker Money".
Sources:
http://www.davlinswoods.com/claycorn.htm
http://tlstuff.zoovy.com/product/NONSENSEJARS
http://tlstuff.zoovy.com/product/BANKS