Posted 13 years ago
SMD
(82 items)
Is this is old, or a reproduction? I am not familiar with the manufacturer, it came from an estate that went up for auction in Delaware. How do I go about determining when it dates to and does anyone know when the manufacturer produced these?
Manufactured By
F. A. Plaisted & Son
Gardiner, ME
It,s definitely old, and a nice old crock at that.
Thanks! I just dug up information about the manufacturer. They existed from 1855 - 1876. I also learned that the 2 gallon size is "rare and highly valuable".
Good for you SMD, nice pick.
Turns out it's not valuable, but at least it's worth double what I paid for it.
"Hi Sarah,
Thank you very much for your email and photographs. That mark is pretty
unusual, but unfortunately the market for Gardiner, Maine, stoneware is
not particularly strong. Also, although there are some exceptions to the
rule, the value of American stoneware rests almost entirely in the
decoration. Consequently, pieces that are essentially undecorated aren't
very sought-after by collectors. All of this being said, the value of your
crock would be around $100. I hope this was helpful and if you have any
other questions, etc., please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best Regards,
Brandt Zipp
Crocker Farm, Inc."