That's a crock of ...

Oh now relax.

Crocks are appearing to me everywhere I go.

I stopped at an estate sale very close to my house a couple of weeks ago. The weather was miserable that morning, I parked in the mushy grass and just prayed that my little Honda was going to get out of the mud. The house was very small, the sky was gray, the lighting was poor but the house was packed with antiques. I was quickly scanning everything, trying to take everything in. There was only one other couple there when I walked in. I always check to see what they have in their hands, to see if they have the same tastes as I, and if they are going to be competition. I was safe that morning. When I found this crock

my heart skipped a beat. I picked it up and told the seller that I was interested. Nothing was priced, but it didn't matter I wasn't going to leave without this. I picked up a picture frame, cut glass mirror, and a butter crock (I found the other one the week after)

and started to make my pile. I found a piece of furniture in the kitchen, told them I was intersted in that also. That piece of furniture I will save for another posting.

So here walks in a dealer. I can smell a dealer a room away. He is in the kitchen and opens the drawers of the kitchen piece that I just bought and asks how much, the seller tells him it's already sold. He was a little dissappointed. I'm smiling on the inside. I pay for my smaller items and start taking them out to my car. I'm carrying out my crock, and the dealer opens the door for me. and asks me if I'm interested in selling my crock. I ask him how much he was willing to offer. He says what price would make me happy. I'm thinking, you aren't dealing with a stupid run of the mill yard sale shopper here. I know what I have in my hand and I'm not giving this up, because I won't be able to replace it and I have wanted one of these like forever. So I tell him $300. He chuckled and knew at that point I was no dummy, his cover was blown. He said he was thinking more of $100, he took a closer look and says oh it does have a crack. I tell him I'll think about it as I walk to my car and do you have a card? He didn't have any with him.

I never went back and I now proudly display this by my fireplace with the other crocks that I've accumulated.

Here's the part that is so special. The woman that lived in the home died at the age of 90+. Her granddaughters were holding the sale. She was not of means, but she had a house full of antiques. She slept on an antique double brass bed. She ate on an antique table. Prepared meals on an antique cupboard and sat on an antique sofa. She also had antique tables, dressers, and mirrors. These were the items that her and her family used day in day out, year in year out, passed down from one generation to another.

They are now part of my family. I hope that I can pass them down to my family.

Life lives on.


To learn more about early American stoneware click on the reference below.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/early-american-crocks-and-jars/