| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Oct 19 2015 : 6:17:33 PM
Oh my WORD!!!
Now, half of our basement is concrete; the other half is behind a wall and filled with dirt, making a small crawl space between the dirt "floor" and the ceiling. We've been down there many, many times, but it's creepy downstairs, and I avoid it like the plague... Not anymore!!!!
Sunday my husband went down to the basement and something caught the corner of his eye sticking out of the dirt. He was super excited when he came upstairs, calling me frantically to come into the kitchen and see what he found! I just about fell over when I saw it!
CHECK
IT
OUT!!!!
He said, "Merry Christmas! Look what I found in the dirt down there!" Oh my WORD!!! I LOVE antique stoneware pottery - it's usually the first thing I check out when we go to the junk stores, flea markets or antique shops! I have always longed for something like this, but even THINKING about splurging to purchase one? Never! I always tell people if I wait long enough, God always manages to give me special things that He knows I really would like to have! This is just... just... exceptional! And SO completely unexpected! Merry Christmas, indeed!!! I'm STILL doing my happy dance! :)
After a little research online, I found out that this is a wax-seal crock, made sometime in the 1870's - 1890's, not too far from here, in Geneva, PA. I looked at some values online, and even in this condition, it has the potential for being quite valuable! I am SO excited!
We did wash it to remove the surface dirt. It must have been down there for-e-ver! I need to find out how to best clean it - maybe even professionally? I wonder if there is any part of it that should be and can be restored? Then I have to figure out where to take it to have it appraised so we can insure it properly... And THEN I've got to figure out where to showcase it! I am just so, so, so happy and grateful to have this "miraculous" treasure! I absolutely love it!!!
I have always had this feeling that we will find treasure in this amazing old house... Did we ever! :) I asked my husband if we could dig out the rest of the dirt side and see what's below. He just squinted his eyes at me and giggled. Hey, man: I'M SERIOUS!!!
Well, I just had to share our exciting find with you. If any of you know anything about this stoneware or if you can suggest what I should do next as far as cleaning, preserving, etc., please let me know. I've found a modern stoneware company online with this particular name on it, and they do feature some antique pieces similar to this one... Maybe they can tell us more! Wish me luck!
Hugs and happiness - and hoping YOU find "miraculous" treasures, too!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| naturemaiden |
Posted - Nov 23 2015 : 02:42:50 AM
Nini how exciting!!! your an archaeologist :)
it looks like a 4 gallon fermenting crock.
http://www.naturemaiden.com/ Handcrafted Soap & Candles
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| nndairy |
Posted - Nov 05 2015 : 1:26:59 PM
Nini,
If there's chocolate involved better save room for me too!!! It's so awesome to find something so valuable and full of history. I wish I had a basement to dig in!!! Thanks for keeping us posted on your discoveries. I love that you're so thoughtful to include all of us on your treasure hunting.
Hugs,
~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month
http://nndairy.blogspot.com/
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 04 2015 : 7:43:00 PM
Thanks for "celebrating" with me girls! Friends and neighbors have stopped by to see it and everyone is amazed! It sure has encouraged people to start nosing around in their cellars, too! ;)
Oh, Linda... You are ALL welcome to come, but my yard is a postage stamp... We live on a main road, however, and there is plenty of on-street parking! ;) Just don't come and try to park there in the winter... You will find folding chairs marking out neighbor's spots... And, by golly, if you even accidentally slightly move one, you're a goner! LOL! I have plenty of chocolate, though, Grace, so all's not lost! ;)
Melody - I hear you! Back in RI, I loved old basements. When we started looking at homes to buy around here, though, they ALL creeped me out. I had never seen half-dirt basements before, and I always wondered if in the old days that was where they buried their loved ones! LOL!
Denise - Thank you! I know! I still can't get over it! I wish the same for EVERYONE!!!
MaryJane - Thank you for putting this discovery in the recent Sister Issue! What a neat surprise! Maybe someone will see it and be able to shed more light on the mystery! Wouldn't THAT be cool!? You're the best!!!
Hugs to all -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| levisgrammy |
Posted - Oct 29 2015 : 08:06:12 AM
Nini, So happy for you. What a wonderful blessing just waiting for you to find it!
~Denise~
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| melody |
Posted - Oct 28 2015 : 7:17:24 PM
Excellent find Nini! When my folks bought the farm after retiring from the service our old farmhouse had a root cellar-We were constantly threatened if we didn't do our chores, finish dinner, etc. we were to be banished down there. It was creepy---dirt floors and shelves tucked into the walls and it smelled odd. I steered clear of that portion of the closed off basement for years.
Are you planning any future excavating?
Melody |
| katmom |
Posted - Oct 27 2015 : 10:21:58 AM
ya,,, what Linda said...and chocolate too! snork, giggle...
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| quiltee |
Posted - Oct 27 2015 : 07:26:22 AM
What fun! Let's all come and dig - do you have lots of room for trailers and sleeping bags? LOL!
Farmgirl hugs,
Farmgirl #1919
Farm Girl of the Month August 2015
Linda O
Lone Oak, TX
"Women are Angels, and when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly . . . on a broomstick - we're flexible, like that."
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| katmom |
Posted - Oct 26 2015 : 10:50:41 PM
Whoot WHoot! don't ya just luv hiden treasures...
hugz
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Oct 26 2015 : 6:18:58 PM
Grace, girls: If you do come with picks and shovels in hand, I'LL have the chocolate, for sure! ;) Heck, we could even take a road trip to Hershey!
Okay - so, I heard back from the gentleman at Crocker's Farm... Here is what he said:
"Thanks a lot for your email. That is a nice example Conrad's work, made roughly around 1875. Southwestern PA stoneware is very collectible, but most of the value is tied to the decoration: how elaborate it is, how bright the blue is, etc. All of that being said, this a little more unusual than some examples you see, but would probably sell for very roughly $350. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any other questions, etc.
Best,
Brandt Zipp
Crocker Farm, Inc."
I also received an email today from my girlfriend who owned our house two families ago. Here is what she found out:
"I had a patient today that has an antique shop. I showed her the picture of our crock. ( ha ha just kidding, your crock.) She thought it would be worth $400-$500. That was just from the picture. She said you left it there! I told her I had no idea it was there! Just thought I would let you know."
LOL! She is REALLY bummed they didn't find this when they lived here! LOL!
ANYHOW,
I also did a little research myself and found several other crocks similar to mine that were actually smaller that went at auction for anywhere between $575 to well over $1000! To be honest, though, the value only matters to me for insurance purposes. I don't plan on selling it. I just would really like to know more about the history of the piece, such as the significance of the rose, wheat and scroll designs. I'd also like to know more about A. Conrad, about where the piece was made, what it was actually used for in our home, and why-oh-why it wound up in the dirt in the basement!
I think the variants in the date and the value are probably due to several factors. They have a "Pittsburgh's Hidden Treasures" show, similar to "Antique Roadshow" at the Heinz History Center every year. I guess I'm going to have to watch for the next event. The people there are EXTREMELY knowledgeable about local history and antiques... Wouldn't THAT be interesting - and FUN!
I spoke with my BFF in RI this weekend, and she'd like to come down and help me get crackin' with the digging. She says she's SURE we'll find numbers 1, 2, 3 and 5 down there, too! LOL! 'Seems like suddenly EVERYONE wants to come visit this spring now! 'Better get the guest room ready! LOL!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| katmom |
Posted - Oct 23 2015 : 11:07:42 AM
Karla,,, I agree with you... let's all bring our flashlights and go visit Nini... heeheehee...
I'll bring the chocolate! lol!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| hoosiercountry |
Posted - Oct 22 2015 : 05:30:11 AM
WOW, how wonderful is that  , I would be going silly every time I went even went by the basement door. I'm with the others we if only we could all descend at your place and have a Farm Girl basement digging party. Hugs Karla |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 6:47:13 PM
Thanks, Marly! Joy! Joy! Joy! ;)
Peggy! That is SUCH a good idea! I don't know what we're actually seeing here, but I do think it's just some sort of staining from age. I will try the Dawn this weekend, though, just to see!
Gracie - That's so true! I've always wanted to look into our home's history more... I think next spring I'll try to make time to go down to the Town Hall and see what I can find out... The basement does seem as though it was used as some type of workshop at one point. There's a big old bench, shelving, a small separate room... There's also an old coal cellar down there, but it's sealed off from the rest of the house now, and from the outside basement window, we can see it's all grown over with grass and weeds. Since the original family was wealthy, I can't help wonder if they had servants, and, if so, did they live in the basement, or, like in other old historic homes we've visited, did the basement serve as a cold cellar or canning kitchen or something at some point... Perhaps that is why the crock was down there... I just have no idea. We just need to do some more sleuthing around to see what we can find... and find out. It's kind of exciting, for sure!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| katmom |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 3:59:14 PM
Oh Nini,,, not only is your journey in search of your Crock's History cool,,, but it is helping you piece together your home's inner history..
Journey On, girlfriend!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| LadyInRed |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 12:06:43 PM
Nini...if those are deep grease stains...maybe you could use some Original Dawn Dish Soap on it
and get it cleaner? Since it cleans up oil off the Oil Spills on birds and other wild life. I would use it full strength and rub, rub, rub...but not hard.
Just a thought...
Love that JOY, Joy, Joy!!! and the 1860 date! Wowsie!!!
Hugs and smiles,
Peggy
Farmgirl #1326
Dec 2011-Farmgirl of the Month
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
Don't allow others to steal the Glitz from your *SPARKLE*
Life is too short to knit with ugly yarn!
Leave Your Cares Behind...Join Us On The Porch |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 11:10:33 AM
Good find!!!!!
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 10:48:19 AM
Oh, MaryJane! I know! I know!!! Can you BELIEVE it?! I'm not kidding - I really want to dig down there and see if there's anything else!!!
SO much fun, Nicole! I just can't wait to find out more about the piece! I have a feeling that there is SO much more to the story to be uncovered! Keep your fingers crossed!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| texdane |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 10:17:35 AM
Nini!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, girlfriend! What a find! How much fun is that? What a treasure indeed.
I am so happy for you!
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| MaryJane |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 09:41:45 AM
Be still my heart!!!! That is a fabulous find, Nini, and right under your nose all this time.
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 08:01:38 AM
LOL! Oh, girls! Wouldn't it be fun to have a weekend of farmgirl digging and fun at Nini's house! We'd have a blast!!! ;) Thanks for celebrating the find with me! SO exciting!!!
Marie - Thank you for the cleaning information! I really appreciate it!
Gracie - I LOVE your crock! I am sure it would've been used for sauerkraut or pickles... I would be THRILLED to be able to use these crocks on a daily basis!!!
Okay... Yesterday I contacted the New Geneva Stoneware Company. They were sooo excited for me! Unfortunately, the woman who answered the phone and the woman working with her were not very knowledgeable about the piece. They did, however, put me in touch with a local antique dealer who apparently is extremely knowledgeable about this stoneware, and they also gave me the number of the previous owner of the company - just in case. Here's what the dealer told me:
First of all, she was pretty excited for me when I told her how we came upon the crock. I sent her a picture of it and her initial response was that it is such BEAUTIFUL crock. She hasn't seen a 4 gallon crock like this in quite a while, so she is still researching a value for me. She said she doesn't think it's worth a ton of money, but there definitely is value in this find!
She said it's definitely local pottery from New Geneva - a four gallon wax seal crock from the 1860's (I was REALLY surprised by that date!) used for preserving all sorts of food. They would put whatever they wanted to preserve in the crock then seal it up with wax, so we won't be finding a lid for the crock down in the basement, that's for sure.
She explained that the stains could be from grease, but more likely they are there from age and from sitting in the dirt for so long. She said they do not affect the value of the piece - this happens all the time in older stoneware. There is one minor mark, however, on the front of the crock to the left of the design next to the number 4 that is not a stain. When you run your finger over it, it's as if there is a small piece protruding from the crock that has discolored - not necessarily anything worrisome to detract from the piece; it looks like something from when when it was made, nothing that occurred later, other than the aging and discoloration, of course. I was extremely surprised by her suggestion for removing the stains, though - floored, actually: She said if they are indeed grease stains to go ahead and use Easy Off to remove them - she said it wouldn't hurt the crock at all. (No - I can't see myself doing that!) She said if they're just stains from age, not to worry about them, and just go ahead and wash the crock really well with soap and water. As you girls suggested, she said not to do anything special to restore the crock: it's best left as is.
She advised me to keep it away from heat and display it in a safe spot where it won't be knocked over or bumped. That's a given! :)
She even suggested that I could still go ahead and actually USE it. I'm thinking she's right because, other than a few surface scratches which my husband says now occurred when he was pulling it out of the crawl space, there are no cracks or crazing on this crock anywhere! It's solid and inside looks just like my newer Salmon Falls Stoneware crocks! I would definitely have it checked by a professional first, though, before I use it for food preservation. And to be honest, I wouldn't want anything to happen to my treasure - I'm really only planning to display it!
She said that A. Conrad (from my research, probably Alexander Conrad) was actually the person who decorated the piece. She said the company had different potters (I think she meant artisans) who would decorate their pieces, which is why when you look up New Geneva pottery you see different names on the crocks. Isn't that something? Nowadays, as we find in our own Salmon Falls Stoneware collection from New Hampshire, potters have special marks that they incorporate into the design on the pottery, kind of like a hidden treasure in itself. Their secret markings add to the value of the pottery! But back then they BOLDLY pronounced themselves as the artisans. So interesting! I wonder if they valued crocks back then like we do, and whether the name on the front had a status-type significance or not. Does the A. Conrad name add to the value of the piece, for instance. I can't help wondering, considering our home was built and once owned by the second most prominent person in our town! The thing is, HE had to have owned the crock for quite a while himself. When we pulled down some wallpaper in the upstairs hallway, we found the signature and date of the person who papered the walls - "Geo. Meckley, 1897." So, we're figuring that although the city doesn't have an actual date for our home being built, it had to be sometime around then. That being the case, if the crock was made in the 1860's, it probably belonged to a mother or grandmother of one of the original owners! How cool is that?! There just has to be a story there!
Anyhow, the dealer I spoke with was just so nice. She sounded kind of hurried when we spoke, so I didn't receive any more information than that. I'm hoping when she calls back I can find out more about the significance of the designs on it, and why they would've just cast it down into the basement like that! After I speak with her, I am still planning to contact the former owner of the company to see if he is able to shed any more light on all of this, too.
I did email our friends who owned the house before us, two families ago. I had to laugh: My girlfriend said she lived here all those years (we think 20 or so), and she only ventured down into the creepy basement four times. She said she can't believe she never explored the crawl space, and that the crock has been sitting there this entire time - she said she's jealous! LOL! Nothing to be jealous about. When things are meant to be, they're meant to be!
That reminds me... She and her husband told us that when they lived here they found a carpenter's receipt dated 1898 (my husband thinks in the coat closet, I thought she said they found it under the cap on the newel post - I'll have to ask her)... So we're definitely in tune with the possible dating of the crock between the receipt they found and the signature and date we found under the wallpaper!
So, that's it for now... I'm hoping to hear back from her soon so I can ask more questions. If there is anything you think I should ask - please do let me know! I was so excited to speak with her and hear what she had to say that I definitely forgot to ask her important questions. I'm sure, then, that you all have questions that I may not even be thinking of asking!
Oh! And I did email a Crocker Farm in Maryland. They specialize and deal in old crocks like this. I'm hoping that they might be able and willing to shed more light on our treasure for us, as well. We can always swing by to have them check it out in person on one of our trips to my parents' home. I haven't heard back from them yet, of course, but I'm checking my email regularly!
How fun to watch the mystery unfold! Again - thanks for sharing in the excitement! I'll keep you posted!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| Annika |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 06:44:53 AM
Good gravy Nini! That is beautiful! Move over girl! I'LL come dig out your basement! Good find. |
| laurzgot |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 06:41:30 AM
Wonderful find Nini. You are so lucky.
Hugs,
Laurie
Country girl at heart
"Smile and be yourself everyday."
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| SlowQueen |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 05:33:03 AM
Miraculous treasure indeed! Congratulations!
I'm with katmom on the cleaning part, most often these finds are worth more if not restored. So happy for you and looking forward to seeing what other treasures you might unearth.
"If you think you're too small to make a difference in the world, try spending a night in a tent with a mosquito."
Farmgirl Sister #6227 |
| katmom |
Posted - Oct 20 2015 : 8:33:13 PM
Nini,
I found this photo of various crocks with lid options...
I guess you could churn butter with the proper lid,,,
here is mine, about 1/2 the size of yours...
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and like yours, mine does not have a lid either...
I do luv these... even if we never solve their mystery... they are still gems.
Now enjoy and let us know what history you do learn about yours.
hugz
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Oct 20 2015 : 6:58:31 PM
Wow Nini, what a great find. Do research on it to find out how old it is. There were potteries everywhere but I'm sure it has a story. Good luck.
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| Pokeyfire |
Posted - Oct 20 2015 : 2:36:14 PM
WooHoo! That's fabulous! Good for you! :0)
Pokeyfire
Farmgirl #6712
Rain soothes the soul. Sunshine makes everything right. |
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