Question:
Hello! What can you tell me about this jug? It seems a bit unusual, possibly experimental? One gallon in size, salt glaze… the bottom portion of the jug appears to be made from a crock, as it has the typical rim of a crock. The bottom is marked MSCo… even this mark seems a bit unusual, similar to the M10 mark, but with no dots between the letters and the letters are raised, not indented. Thanks! Tim

Answer: Tim, brown top shoulder jugs are extremely hard to find bottom signed. So yours very well could have been and an experimental or very early jug. Also, the mark seems to be quite hard to find as well. With all of this being said, I would say you have a very early and rare Minnesota Stoneware Company signed jug. Value would be hard for me to place on your jug, but could be about the same as the Red Wing signed shoulder jug that is bottom signed and totally Albany slip. Value on that jug is $750 to $900. Now the condition of your jug is a little rougher, with the line separation between the dome of the jug and it’s side. The dome of the jug not completely covered in Albany slip & the staining of the salt glazed sides. With these conditions, the value could fall to half of the listed value above. Hope this helps. Al Kohlman