Question:
Hello Al, 31 years ago when the old house I was raised in was being bulldozed down I saw there was a root cellar that we had not known about beneath it. I found 2 salt glazed crocks. Here is a picture of the 20 birch leaf. A few years ago a collector of these said it was made in the late 1890′s by Red Wing. Do you think it is? There are no other stamps on it, it has no cracks, but it does have a large chip on the ear and 3 small ones on the rear base ( though all seem to have been there before the glazing as they are covered with the same glaze). Did they produce ‘seconds’ for a cheaper price? I’m going to attempt it’s sale and would like your opinion of it’s approximate worth. Thank you for any help, Diane.

Answer: Diane, your 20 gallon Minnesota Stoneware Crock (manufactured by the Minnesota Stoneware Company) was most likely produced between 1883 & 1895. If all the chips are glazed over, then your crock would be considered mint, but these flaws should always be mentioned if selling the piece. If it were signed by the Minnesota Stoneware Company the value would be higher than what I will give you. The way it sits now, the value will be between $1500 & $2000. This is do to the staining on the front of your crock. If the marks I see are dirt and not stains and the crock cleans up well, the value could reach $2500. Either way a nice piece and you should do well. Good luck! Al