Rare Antique Stoneware: 12 Pieces That Are Fetching Hundreds Today

In the majority of cases, most antique stoneware collectors look for one thing: a nice cobalt-decorated crock in good shape. And that’s actually what needs to be checked.

But rare shapes, unusual sizes, and forgotten makers are often ignored by collectors every time at estate sales. The following is a list of valuable antique stoneware items that fetch much more than expected today.

12 Rare Stoneware Items Collectors Pay Real Money for

Manufacturing Years	1850 to 1859
Key Features	Slip-trailed deer (on deer) or elaborate florals, impressed stamp
Collectors’ Notes	Finest examples by Artist John Hilfinger.

Norton Pottery from Bennington was active from 1793 until the 1890s. However, the J. & E. Norton Partnership only existed for nine years, from 1850 until 1859, making pieces made between these dates quite rare.

Marked J. & E. Norton stoneware with hand-painted cobalt daisy or deer designs is highly sought after today.

Manufacturing Years	1810s to 1880s
Key Features	Alkaline glaze, ovoid form, thick walls
Collectors’ Notes	Don’t trust Southern alkaline glaze easily.

Edgefield alkaline-glazed stoneware from the Edgefield District of South Carolina is very unique compared to stoneware that is produced in the North. Identifying features of this stoneware include the glass-like finish and the bulbous shapes.

Pieces that have signatures from producers such as Baynham, Chandler, or the Rhodes pottery are particularly valuable, even if they lack signatures.

Manufacturing Years	1863 to 1880s
Key Features	Freehand cobalt design, ovoid body
Collectors’ Notes	Double-stamped examples are premium

It is easy to recognize the Cowden & Wilcox ware since they have very characteristic brush strokes, which are folkish and robust. However, there is very little awareness of their ware decorated with birds, since people generally prefer the floral crocks, but the latter are much rarer.

Manufacturing Years	1877 to 1896
Key Features	Salt glaze, elephant ear cobalt stamp
Collectors’ Notes	Original dasher lid is a must for top value

Red Wing butter churns do appear at auctions from time to time, although the one to seek is the salt-glazed variety with the “elephant ear” leaf stamp on it.

This particular combination comes from the very early days of Red Wing production. Churns available today are usually of the later Bristol white glaze variety.

Manufacturing Years	1880s to 1930s
Key Features	Merchant name, town, product stencil
Collectors’ Notes	Idaho & Western state examples are valuable

Red Wing created advertising jugs for their local merchants, pharmacists, and liquor merchants in the Midwestern states. The advertising jugs are usually ignored by collectors who only collect the decorated crocks.

But advertising jugs with the name of a certain merchant, town, and product have an actual value. For instance, a Radam’s Microbe Killer advertising jug that dates back to the 1890s can be sold for $200-$2,500.

Manufacturing Years	1860s to 1880s
Key Features	Feathered cobalt tree motif
Collectors’ Notes	Utica pieces are constantly in demand.

The White family pottery is one of the most sought-after of all makers of Central New York. This family’s trademark design is that of a freehand tree painted with a “feather” pattern resembling an evergreen tree.

Pieces with this design, with well-defined cobalt, and marked “N.A. WHITE & SON/UTICA/NY” are the most valuable. Other cobalt designs are also collectible.

Manufacturing Years	1870s to 1900s
Key Features	Dome top, base tray, cobalt stencil
Collectors’ Notes	Maker-marked examples triple in value

Chicken waterers made of stoneware are one type that very few recognize as being collectibles. It is a type that consists of two pieces – the dome-shaped top and the base tray.

Those that are cobalt-stenciled, especially when bearing the names of known potteries such as Grier of Chester County, Pennsylvania, are extremely rare.

Manufacturing Years	1906 to 1936
Key Features	Spongeband decor, wall-mount hole, fitted lid
Collectors’ Notes	Complete with lid is essential

This is probably the rarest form in the Red Wing spongeband line. The salt box, which hangs, has a hole on top that can be mounted on the wall. Also, there is a lid that fits in perfectly with it.

The collectors of Red Wing are interested in crocks and jugs, so they ignore these salt boxes during sales.

Manufacturing Years	1906 to 1940s
Key Features	Maple leaf mark, merchant, town stencil
Collectors’ Notes	Small-town & dairy examples are most valuable.

Western Stoneware of Monmouth, Illinois, manufactured crocks marked with maple leaf logos starting from 1906. These are generally common; however, the advertising examples made for local business owners are something else.

They have generally been priced as standard crocks by dealers due to a lack of understanding that they add substantial value to the advertising piece. Items with small towns in the Midwest are particularly collectible.

Manufacturing Years	1840s to 1890s
Key Features	Low, wide form with cobalt brushwork
Collectors’ Notes	Intact rim is critical to value

Although stoneware spittoons (or cuspidors) have been around since the 1800s, most have been lost through breakage or disposal. The few that remain are generally found on the market selling at typical crock prices.

Cobalt-decorated ones by potteries, especially with marks, are very rare and sought after by collectors.

Manufacturing Years	1860s to 1890s
Key Features	Stenciled maker’s mark, cobalt stripes
Collectors’ Notes	Freehand decoration adds high value.

Hamillaton & Jones from Greensboro produced decorated stoneware using strong blue lettering and cobalt decoration. Generally speaking, their products were not as highly valued as those of East Coast producers, as Pennsylvania pottery is less known in the country than that from New York and New England.

If you find cobalt-decorated items with the whole inscription “HAMILTON & JONES / GREENSBORO, PA,” it’s a rare find.

Manufacturing Years	1880s to early 1900s
Key Features	Salt glaze, cobalt design, successor stamp
Collectors’ Notes	Hamilton & Reppert lines are premium.

After James Hamilton & Co., T.F. Reppert assumed control in Greensboro and manufactured salt-glazed pottery marked with cobalt painting.

Pitchers that have “SUCCESSOR TO JAS. HAMILTON & CO.” stamped on them add more to their authenticity. One such 10-inch pitcher was recently sold for more than $2,000.

Antique Stoneware Identification & Value Tips

The very first step in assessing any antique stoneware crocks is checking its base and the areas around its handles. Maker’s marks from potteries like Norton, Cowden & Wilcox, or Remmey will be impressed or stamped there.

Easy Tip: If the marks are readable, it means extra value for the item due to the proof of provenance.

Next, the type of glaze indicates the age of the item quite precisely.

• Salt glaze (orange peel texture that looks rough; gray or tan) means that the piece is earlier than 1900.
• Bristol glaze (smooth; white or cream) became common after 1890.
• Alkaline glaze (glossy; green-brown; mostly in southern stoneware) suggests Edgefield potteries.

When it comes to valuation, the quality of cobalt decoration is one of the most important things.

For example, swipes and numbers will put the item in the price range of $50-$200. Freehand pictures of birds, flowers, or deer make an item worth $400-$2,500. Figural decoration with people, ships, or patriotic scenes may cost five figures.

Condition also matters quite a lot, but hairlines and chipping are acceptable for stoneware. Cracks, missing lids, and visible amateurish glue make items worthless.

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