Sweet Score on Craigslist- What a Crock!

[talesofthesevenseas]

Garden City Pottery Co was in business in San Jose CA (the town where I grew up and still work today) from 1902 until 1979. Early on it produced crocks like this one as well as flower pots, mixing bowls and sewer pipe. Mine is a three gallon stoneware crock. Its heavy, thick, and it has the original lid, no chips or cracks. The lid is incised with a "3" on the handle. It has one slight fold in the lid, that is a manufacturing flaw, and some crackling in the glaze due to age, but is otherwise in pristine condition. It is hard to find these, and even harder to find one with the lid. I see a 20 gallon appraised at $350-$400 http://www.justanswer.com/antiques/574a0-20-gallon-crock-gardea-city-pottery-co-san-jose-ca.html
and found a 6 gallon with the lid, but in much rougher shape for $590: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Stoneware-Garden-City-Pottery-Co-San-Jose-Calif-6-Gallon-Crock-w-Lid-/290883596282

So what do y'all think my 3 gallon would be worth in today's market? I paid $40!!!



Bottom view:



Lid, the 3 in the center of the handle is much clearer in reality. The 'fold' is on the left side in this pic, half way up. Definitely a manufacturing flaw and not a crack.



Interior of the lid, the 'fold' is in the lower right.



Interior of the crock

[ghopper1924]

You may have the bargain of the year!

Local crocks can bring big money in surrounding communities. When you add in a lid in perfect condition - always a tough acquisition - you may be talking about 4 figures!

[bigwull]

"Bargain of the year"....only in the land of the free...over here..you,d be very lucky to get $150 ..i,m being very generous with $150.pots like this frequently sell for £10/£20...or $15/$30......Oh!...i wish shipping containers were cheaper....

[sugarcube5419]

hello=just love your crock--in minnesota we have red wing pottery that is the same way--and runs for big bucks...you must have found a sleeper, good for you!

[cogar]

3 gallon small wing crock and lid

May 11, 2012

Could you please provide some info on the 3 gal Crock and lid in the attached photos

Answer:
 
Your 3 gallon Red Wing crock was produced between 1936 & 1947.  Value on just the crock is around $75 with the small chip.  The 3 gallon Red Wing daisy petal lid is the correct lid for this crock.  In perfect condition, the value on the lid is $125 to $135.   Al Kohlman

http://www.redwingcollectors.org/category/ask_the_experts/stoneware/page/20

[Rauville]

Good job!...That's a nice piece for a very nice price. I've always valued lids at about twice what the matching crock would sell for. Regional pieces can bring some big money at times. (I've told you about the little crock I put on eBay for $75...and it ended up selling for over $10k.)

Here's another Garden City crock:
http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-824939/vintage-garden-city-pottery-10-crock-with-lid.html

[sugarcube5419]

maybe I live under a rock but pls tell me this story--

[talesofthesevenseas]

There's not a lot to tell on this one. It was simply a senior lady who had been a life-long antiquer and needed to downsize. They commented that they realized that they were selling the #3 I bought for well below its value, but they needed to clear things out.

She had several crocks, lids and bowls:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/3721676062.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/3721653831.html

A whole collection of sad irons:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/3673999376.html

and a bunch of treadle sewing machines, I think six or eight of them. There don't appear to be too many crocks for sale by Garden City Pottery Co, so it may be kind of hard to get a fix on the price, especially since none of the ones we've found so far at three gallon size. It looks like some of them have sold for several hundred, but it might be one of those things where it takes a specialized buyer to realize that kind of price. The condition and having the original lid will really help I think. I'm thrilled with it. Looks great beside the other kitchen stuff and it has the connection to home for me too.

[bigwull]

There's not a lot to tell on this one. It was simply a senior lady who had been a life-long antiquer and needed to downsize. They commented that they realized that they were selling the #3 I bought for well below its value, but they needed to clear things out.

She had several crocks, lids and bowls:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/3721676062.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/3721653831.html

A whole collection of sad irons:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/3673999376.html

and a bunch of treadle sewing machines, I think six or eight of them. There don't appear to be too many crocks for sale by Garden City Pottery Co, so it may be kind of hard to get a fix on the price, especially since none of the ones we've found so far at three gallon size. It looks like some of them have sold for several hundred, but it might be one of those things where it takes a specialized buyer to realize that kind of price. The condition and having the original lid will really help I think. I'm thrilled with it. Looks great beside the other kitchen stuff and it has the connection to home for me too.

LOL!...somehow I don,t think this is the story sugercube....was wanting to hear....

[cogar]

Stone jar prices at auctions are fickle and ya never know what one will sell for.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Yeah, I can't see anything consistent price-wise, but it doesn't matter much since I bought it to keep rather than sell. I'm pretty safe with a $40 investment, and even my Hubby likes it!

[frogpatch]

Tales, please! A lot of my stories have been called a crock. Your crock is a story. Tell us relative newcomers of the 10K crock please.

[bigwull]

Tales, please! A lot of my stories have been called a crock. Your crock is a story. Tell us relative newcomers of the 10K crock please.

Tales??...don,t you mean Rauville.....or am i too needing a pair of Marts specials

[frogpatch]

I am sorry. It was Rauville. Thanks Wull. Its Friday and 9PM here and the clear stuff has made me not so.
 Also, by the way, that is a really nice crock. Great decoration and a very bright finish. I like it a lot regardless of value.