T.J. Monaghan Crock

[Kimmienemo]

I have an antique crock that belonged to my grandfather.  He lived in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.  The crock is approximately 8.5" tall and about 5.5" in diameter.  It has a beige glaze exterior with a dark brown glazed interior.  It bears the stamp

T.J. Monaghan
Groceries & Crockery
Arnprior

I have been unable to find out anything about this piece or T.J. Monaghan.

Any suggestions, hints, or other types of help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.  -Kimmienemo

[bigwull]

we need pics...as our telepathic powers are limited...

[Kimmienemo]

I'm sorry.  I'm new to this.  I tried to upload the pictures, but the "attach" button will not activate!  It stays gray!  I will try again from my laptop.

Thanks for your patience!

[bigwull]

to upload a pic click on the additional options, then browse...

[Kimmienemo]

Here are the pictures.  Apparently, posting pictures from my iPad is not an option.

Again, my thanks.

Kimmienemo

[Rauville]

Looks like a "snuff jar", that would have had a wax sealed top originally. I'm sure most of these regional marked pieces of stoneware would have been a relative small production run when ordered by the storekeeper.

[bigwull]

Snuff Jar?...8in x 5in that amount of snuff would sure service a lot of noses, for a lot,of years..perhaps even a lifetime

[Rauville]

Snuff Jar?...8in x 5in that amount of snuff would sure service a lot of noses, for a lot,of years..perhaps even a lifetime

They are referred to as "snuff jars", at least around here, when in reality they actually held "chewing tobacco". I've had a number of them, marked "Copenhagen".

[Kimmienemo]

Do you believe it would be helpful to contact the local museum in Arnprior to obtain any further information on T.J. Monahan or the crock/snuff jar?

[ghopper1924]

Sounds like a good strategy to me.

[Kimmienemo]

Another "silly" question. . . Is it best to leave the crock as is or should I try to clean it up.  I know that many times the value of an item is diminished when they are cleaned, but I wasn't sure about crockery.

[greenacres]

I think it's only worth about $150.- $200.00. It's a great piece of history.

[mart]

just wash it with dawn liquid and water, damp cloth, not soaking wet !!  you should keep it clean !!

[cogar]

Merchants and retailers would order a quantity of stone jars from a pottery and the pottery would imprint on the jar whatever the merchant wanted.

Bout every household had a dozen or 3 stone jars from quarts to 40+ galloners .... and that made for cheap, long lasting advertising for the merchant.

Unless the pottery also signed it themselves or one can recognized the "style" then you may never find out who actually produce the jar.

And a good scrubing inside n' out won't hurt it a bit. They were made for storing food in. Just don't drop it on the concrete. 

[Kimmienemo]

I found an entry from the Library of Congress that shows and advertisement for a T.J. Monahan's in Springfield in the year 1885.  I am wondering if any of you have heard of that company being, perhaps, a larger mercantile type store.  I know Canada had the wildly famous Hudson Bay Trading Post. I wonder if Monahan's might have been something like that?