Nebraska Woman's $20 Porch Crock Sells for $32,000 at Auction
In an astonishing turn of events, a stoneware crock that had been sitting on a Nebraska back porch for decades and was initially expected to sell for about $20 ended up fetching a staggering $32,000 at auction. The remarkable sale occurred on January 10, which coincidentally was the 91st birthday of the crock's owner, Lois Jurgens, a Nebraska resident.
From Garage Sale to Auction Block
Lois Jurgens originally planned to sell the large, heavy crock for approximately $20 at a garage sale. However, due to its substantial weight, it never made it to the sale and instead remained on her back porch, where it served as a makeshift table for many years. Later, Jurgens noticed an announcement in a local newspaper about an upcoming auction for antiques and collectibles, specifically mentioning Red Wing crocks. This prompted her family to submit the piece to Bramer Auction & Realty in Amherst, Nebraska.
At the time, the family had modest expectations, thinking the crock might sell for around the same price they had planned for the garage sale. Little did they know that this decision would lead to a windfall.
Why This Crock Attracted Collectors
The crock turned out to be a rare example of Red Wing Stoneware, historically produced in Red Wing, Minnesota. It is a 30-gallon stoneware crock with several distinctive features that captivated collectors:
- Molded side handles for easy transport.
- A delicate blue butterfly decoration.
- The Red Wing name stamped twice on the surface.
- A salt-glazed finish, which creates a rough texture compared to smoother zinc-glazed pieces.
These characteristics helped experts estimate that the crock was produced between 1877 and 1900, placing it in the early years of Red Wing stoneware production. Stoneware crocks were commonly used in households before modern refrigeration for preserving foods like pickles and sauerkraut.
Ken Bramer, owner of Bramer Auction & Realty, noted that the combination of features made the piece particularly unusual. He stated that in his 40 years as an auctioneer, he had never encountered a similar crock.
The Auction Frenzy
After Bramer posted photographs of the crock on his website and Facebook page, collectors from across the United States showed keen interest. When the auction began, bidding quickly escalated from $1,000 to a final price of $32,000. The crock was purchased by a collector in Kansas, marking a significant premium over the initial $20 expectation.
Jurgens expressed surprise at the outcome, admitting she could not remember exactly how she and her late husband, who passed away in 2022, had originally obtained the crock. The sale, occurring on her birthday, added an unexpected and memorable twist to the story of the antique item that had graced her porch for so long.
This auction highlights the unpredictable nature of collectibles and the potential hidden value in everyday items, turning a simple porch decoration into a lucrative discovery.
