Old Stoneware Worth Big Bucks

Old Stoneware Worth Big Bucks AG WORLD If you discover an old piece of stoneware around your farm or at an auction it might be worthwhile to check out its value Especially if it looks a little fancier than the ones you usually see     For example at a Kovels Auction a Harvest jug with applied leaves and two spouts with a rope twist handle sold for $2 280 But that’s a pittance compared to a 7-gal Stoneware Broadway Water Cooler that sold for $480 000 at a Crocker Farm auction Considered one of the finest examples of salt-glazed stoneware in decades the 1846 cooler shows a New York City street scene and depicts a celebration for the Great National Jubilee of the Order of the Sons of Temperance which promoted abstinence from alcohol     Details age size manufacturer and good condition make certain pieces stand out at auctions America made the salt-glazed stoneware pottery for all kinds of uses in the 18th Century through about 1910 Crocks were filled with staples from butter to flour to meats and cheeses Jugs and bottles held whiskey vinegar beer and kept water cool     The pottery has a shiny surface with some bumps from the salt particles Artists often added hand-painted decorations using cobalt blue ink Many had hand-drawn or stenciled numbers or letters     The Stoneware jugs made in the 1800’s that earn top dollar were often more than just functional Many were expressions of art with added decorations on the jug Others have odd shapes or detailed paintings     But even versions with simple paintings like a chicken are highly collectible In 2012 a 5-gal crock with handles and a blue chicken sold for $780 at Morphy Auctions Similar size hand-painted crocks continue to be worth anywhere from $200 to $1 250 depending on condition     Though paintings and applied details add value don’t overlook the little brown jugs you may own They often sell on eBay for around $200     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup www kovels com; www morphyauctions com

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