How Do You Identify Antique Stoneware Markings?
Stoneware is pottery fired to a high temperature (about 2300 degrees F). In about 1720, American potters began producing a form of stoneware developed in Europe centuries earlier—stoneware glazed with salt and decorated with cobalt blue. Salt-glazed stoneware was common in 19th-century America, and potters produced it all over the country, often stamping it with their maker’s marks. Today, antique American stoneware crocks, jugs, pitchers and other items are extremely collectible and often very valuable. Determine the exact wording of the maker’s mark. A slightly incorrect transcription of a potter’s name or city can mean a fruitless search. If you feel confident that you can read the mark properly, skip to step 3. If unable to read the mark, there are a couple of techniques you can use. First, try different lighting sources and angles of light. A crock or jug taken out in the sunlight might yield details not seen indoors. Taking a bright light and angling it parallel to the crock’s
