Antique Stoneware Crocks

Antique stoneware crocks have been a popular collectible since the 1970s when primitive antiques became part of many decorating schemes. The continued popularity of antique crocks makes them a great investment for the collector.

Stoneware crocks were the Mason jars of the past.

Using clay to fashion kitchenware goes back to the dawn of man. Clay was plentiful and pots and containers were fashioned to do a number of tasks:

• Store food
• Prepare food
• Cook food
• Proof bread
• Churn butter

The manufacture of crocks in the United States dates back to the 1700s. Crocks and stoneware containers of all types were manufactured by local artisans. By the late 1770s many of colonial America’s crocks were made in Philadelphia or Yorktown, Virginia. These manufacturers used a salt glazing process to create a glass-like finish on the crocks when they were fired.

By the early 1800s salt ware glazed crocks, jugs, and bowls were being made in almost every large city in the United States. The crocks were most often decorated with a simple cobalt design and perhaps a maker’s mark.

Crocks were an indispensable part of the efficient kitchen until the Mason jar came into common use in the early 1900s. They were used as plastic containers or ziptop bags might be used in the modern kitchen.

Stoneware crocks were made out of a particular category of clay. It was fired in a kiln to a temperature of over 2,000F. At that temperature the clay hardened and became similar in structure and durability to stone.

Stoneware was usually given one of two finishes:

• Salt glazed - During the salt glazing process salt is added to the kiln before firing. When the temperature hits 1,600F the salt turns to a vapor. The sodium vapor permeates and bonds with the silica found in the clay and creates a new substance called "sodium silicate." Sodium silicate is also known as glass.
• Albany Slip - Another glaze that was popular in New York was called "Albany Slip." This mixture was created from a specific clay found along the Upper Hudson. The crock was dipped into the liquid slip before firing. Once it was fired a dark brown glaze was produced. Some crocks have salt glazed exteriors and Albany Slip interiors.
• Alkaline Glaze - This unique glaze was used almost exclusively in the south, most notably South Carolina and Georgia. It created a variety of colors from ebony to a golden hay yellow. It is a low fired glaze and gives the crock a distinctive look.

Prior to firing the antique stoneware crocks were often given a design made from combinations of clay, water and cobalt oxide. It was painted onto the unfired crocks and when fired would become the beautiful blue decoration that so many people seek in these old crocks.

The value of an antique crock will depend on many things.

• Maker - Some makers, like Redwing, bring higher prices than others.
• Condition - Chips, cracks, and extreme wear will bring the final value down. In most cases crazing (a crackled appearance) does not.
• Size and rarity - Some shapes and sizes are more sought after than others.
• Design - Some of the cobalt designs on crocks are exceptionally detailed and beautiful. These generally command higher prices than others. As a general rule the more blue design you see the more you can expect to pay.
• Intact - Many crocks came with lids. If the crock still has the original lid it will tend to be more valuable.
• Location - A crock will often be more valuable in the area where it was made. Local potteries will generally command a higher price in their own area because there is a higher concentration of collectors.

Whether you find an antique stoneware crock in your local antique shop or on eBay they are a fun and practical antique to collect. You can use them to store magazines, cookies, and other items for instant decorator flair in your country home.

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