Crocks & Salt Glaze Pottery | Antique Stoneware

Stoneware is a durable form of pottery fired at higher temperatures than earthenware, resulting in a dense, hard body well suited for utilitarian use. Salt-glazed stoneware and traditional storage crocks are central to this category, valued historically for their strength, practicality, and longevity.

Salt glazing occurs when salt is introduced into the kiln at peak firing temperatures, where it vaporizes and reacts with the clay body to form a thin, glassy surface. This process produces the distinctive orange-peel texture and subtle color variations associated with salt-glazed wares. Because the glaze forms through chemical reaction rather than surface application, each piece develops a unique finish.

Crocks and salt-glazed vessels were widely used for food storage, preservation, and household utility, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their simple forms and robust construction reflect a focus on function, while their surfaces reveal the expressive effects of high-temperature firing.

Our Crocks & Salt Glaze Pottery collection features antique examples selected for their form, surface character, and historical use, representing the foundation of utilitarian pottery traditions.