Antique John Bell Redware Large Crock Brown Lead Glaze Interior Waynesboro PA
Description: An antique hand thrown redware crock made by John Bell of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. The crock, which has a round flat base has rounded sides ending in a rounded banded rim with a plain top. The crock is glazed on the inside with a dark brown lead glaze. It is not glazed on the outside. The shoulder of the crock is stamped "JOHN BELL/WAYNESBORO" in two lines. The base of the crock is unglazed and has the usual red coloring of unglazed redware as does the rest of the exterior. This primitive crock was made by one of southeastern Pennsylvania better known potters of the late 19th century. It has a very nice look and is in very good condition. This primitive piece is very well done and looks great both in shape and color. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Uncertain, but most likely sometime in the 1880s.
Origin: Waynesboro Pennsylvania
Size: The crock measures ~5" in diameter at the base and measures ~6 1/2" in diameter at the top. The piece is ~5 1/2" tall and weighs about 2 pounds and 4.6 ounces.
Maker: John Bell.
Marks: Stamped "JOHN BELL/WAYNESBORO" in two lines on the shoulder, see last photo for details.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: This is a true primitive antique and very nice crock made by one of Southeastern Pennsylvania better known potters. It is in fine condition after over 140 years of being around. The piece has very nice appearance and would display nicely in any collection of old primitive redware home implements.
Condition: Crock is in very good condition given its age and its utilitarian function. It has no hairlines, breaks, cracks, or repairs. It does have general crazing to the glaze on the inside and general wear to the interior. It has scratches and white line markings to the exterior and some loss of flaking at the surface, which we attempt to show in the next to last photo. It also has some losses to the glaze and scratches to the glaze on the interior. Finally, as is the case with all these primitive old redware pieces, the crock has a few of the usual defects you would expect in a primitive piece of redware such as this one, such as pops, slubs, unglazed areas, rough areas of the surface, and uneven areas. Please view the photos for additional condition information.
