How to Use Vintage Crocks in your Home

You found a vintage crock while junking and now you are wondering what to do with it. I am showing you how use vintage crocks in your home

Vintage crocks are one of the first things I started to collect. I still look for them every time I go out junking. They are so versatile and add a cute farmhouse touch to your home. My first crock that got me hooked was the one holding my utensils in my kitchen. It has a cute sunshine around the number. It was love at first sight and I never looked back. Let’s chat about how to use vintage crocks in your home.

A Little History Lesson

Crocks were used for food storage back in the good old days. I think that is why I love to display them in the kitchen and around cupboards that would have been in the kitchen. It looks more natural. I have two bigger crocks under my white pie safe. They are wonderful to fillers, by this I mean they fill in gaps that you may have wondered what to put there to finish off the space.

The numbers on the crock signify the capacity or how big it is. If you see a 2 then you know it is a two gallon crock. I love to see the different markings or stamps on the crocks. Those stamps and markings can also help identify the brand and sometimes even the age. The texture is also a favorite. Salt glazed crocks are my favorite! I had been on the hunt for a one and a half gallon crock for a while and low and behold I finally found one at a flea market. It is an old one too…it is my absolute favorite crock. I am trying to figure out if it is Edgefield pottery. I love a good history mystery!

Where I like to Find Crocks

I get asked a lot about where is a good place to find crocks. Honestly I think I have found them pretty much everywhere that I shop. Flea markets, thrift shops, antique shops, estate sales, and yard sales. They made my list as one of the top things I look for at estate sales.

A Good Way to Display

This is my favorite topic. I literally have crocks displayed all throughout my home. There may be one in every room in my house. I have a really old blue display piece that came from a hardware store. It is in my sunroom and is the perfect piece to hold a lot of my crock collection. Here are a few other ideas…

• On top of a cabinet grouped in threes or just one with other items.
• Underneath a tall cabinet or cupboard from tallest to smallest.
• On the bottom of a sofa table grouped together or counting down by the gallon numbers
• In a vignette with other items with faux greenery or real greenery in it.
• They make great utensil holders
• Display your rolling pin collection in one
• Use the bigger ones to hold a bigger plant
• Near a fireplace holding wood
• Smaller ones make great candle holders too
• On a porch holding flowers or other seasonal items
• The bigger ones could also hold blankets

How expensive are vintage crocks

This ranges by the type, size, quality and age. Bee sting crocks tend to be on the pricey side and are on my wish list. The salt glazed crocks tend to also be a little more pricey than others. I have lucked into a few at really great prices. I think the brown and cream crocks tend to be on the cheaper side here at least.

The condition does play a role in the price. I tend to not mind a crack or chip as long as it is still useful. You can usually find a much better price on the cracked ones. Take for example the old one and half gallon crock I was telling you about. It was at a flea market where the gentleman was selling edgefield pieces but this piece had a small chunk chipped off the top on one side of the rim. It is very noticeable and for that reason he only charged me fifteen dollars! I about died because it was still in great condition everywhere else and you know what I can hide that chip with faux greenery. So don’t be afraid to buy the imperfectly perfect ones.

I hope I have inspired you to look for a crock when you are out junking if you have never owned one. Trust me you might just start a collection of your own!