1800s Primitive Redware Apple Butter Crock Rolled Rim Southeastern Pennsylvania
Description: An antique redware apple butter crock from Southeastern Pennsylvania. The crock, which has a round flat base has rounded sides ending in a shaped or rolled rim with a rounded top, which extends outwards. The crock is glazed on the inside with an orangish-brown coloring but it is not glazed on the outside. The outside has splotches that are dark in color and a few glaze spots over the unglazed redware. These splotches and glaze spots are most likely an artifact of the primitive making process. The base is also unglazed and has the usual red coloring of unglazed redware. This primitive crock has a very interesting uneven exterior patina or coloring with various shades of unglazed redware coloring, blackish coloring possibly from the firing, and spots of glaze possibly an artifact of the making. The interior has a nice orangish-brown coloring showing lines resulting from shaping the piece over a wheel. This primitive piece is very well made and is nicely rounded which is a testament to the skill of the potter who made it. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Uncertain, but most likely early to mid 1800s.
Origin: Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Size: The crock measures ~3 1/8" in diameter at the base and measures ~4 5/8" in diameter on top, and ~4 3/4" tall. The crock weighs over one pound and 1 ounce.
Maker: Unknown.
Marks: No markings.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: This is a true primitive antique and very nice apple butter crock, which seldom comes in such great condition after almost 200 years of being around and after seeing what one would expect to be extensive use. 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 and minor losses to the glaze on the interior. The piece has no chips that we could see. It does have lots of the defects you would expect in primitive piece of pottery such as this. These include pops, slubs, unglazed areas and uneven areas, including several spots that appear as shallow holes on the exterior of the piece. There are spots of glaze and black coloration on the outside suggesting sloppiness in the making. Finally, as is the case with all these primitive old redware pieces, the crock has very few of the usual defects you would expect such as pops, slubs, unglazed areas and uneven areas, including several spots that appear as shallow holes on the exterior of the piece, which appear to be an artifact of the making process. Please view the photos for additional condition information.
