EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: 19th Century Earthenware Crock Found in Western New York

Friday, August 23, 2019

19th Century Earthenware Crock Found in Western New York

While vacationing in Western New York last week with my niece and nephew, we found a few pieces of locally made pottery to bring home . This two-gallon crock is the first piece that we encountered, which on first sight may appear to be stoneware. But it's not. We found this piece not far from Niagara Falls, and I believe it was made in Ontario in the nineteenth century.

This is actually an earthenware crock made to look like stoneware in form and decoration. The beautifully applied flowers are green, as is much of the exterior and interior. But small amounts of yellow can also be seen in the glaze.

I asked the person selling this piece if they knew any information about its history, but they told me they did not know much about it. They said it was likely found locally in Western New York. I would date this piece as having been made during the second-half of the nineteenth century.

However, I rarely see this type of production in New England or even in my travels - so I felt compelled to buy this piece for my collection. I think it's an excellent and underappreciated form of Canadian production, and I strongly feel that these wares should certainly be appreciated in both countries.

Outside of a few potters in Western New York and maybe a couple of other places, we just do not see this type of stoneware imitation. This is really a style that is unlike anything I have seen from the vast majority of nineteenth century American red earthenware potters. I think this is a really neat piece!

Earthenware Crock Found in Western New York