Antique Stoneware Is Not Just Another Pot In The Kitchen

Huge antique stoneware crocks filled to bursting with pickles, jams bubbling away on stoves, and larders and pantry's filled with pots and jars of all descriptions. It is not long ago that kitchens were full of stoneware and it was the choice of material for virtually everything.

For many years, stoneware bowls, crocks and jugs have been the cooking and storage items of choice. Being perfect for storing dry foods, stoneware is a multipurpose kitchen tool as it is also safe to use in the oven and on the stove.

People have always been looking for nice cooking pots. They are in fact very useful for a number of things. Of course, there is no reason for you to be envious of your neighbor for having a better pot than you.

To this day I expect a fair bit of coveting goes on behind closed doors at the Red Wing Collectors Society inc. Founded in 1977 this society holds the Red Wing Pottery works in very high esteem, maintaining large collections of items collected over the years. The Red Wing Potteries date back to the mid nineteenth century when German immigrants settled in the town of Red Wing, Minnesota. With legendary efficiency the Red Wing Potteries soon became the largest pottery in the United States.

The beginning works of Red Wing were typically for practical purposes in the kitchen. Now the company makes a larger variety of items such as bowls and other everyday items. There was little decoration on the earlier versions of these pottery pieces which usually consisted of just a simple bird or flower, and they were in fact very plain in design. Antique stoneware is typically an item you can actually use but if you want to retain its value, it needs to stay in mint condition.

The popularity for collecting antique stoneware was most prevalent during the 1970s. Collectors were eager to pay decent money for the stoneware that had been stored away by the previous owners and then placed in the open market. Because of this, the majority of the collectible stoneware has already found their homes in private collectors leaving few items on the market today.

If you are thinking of starting a collection and you are attracted to these items, take a little care when buying. Many pottery pieces have been restored which can decrease their value. There are fakes on the market, and whilst they may be of a high quality, when it comes to selling on a piece, you may lose considerable money. Always purchase from a reputable antique dealer to be safe and to minimize risk.

Legitimate antique stoneware crocks can fetch between $300 and $750 in the 25-60 gallon range. A matching fitting lit essentially doubles its value. The lids rarely survive the test of time, and are in much higher demand. Most of the decorated jars on the market come from the period between 1909 and 1947 and if your crock has metal handles it is a post 1915 model. Maker's marks help further identification of age; however an expert valuation and dating may be required for any degree of accuracy.