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25337 Beltrees Road, Elsah, IL
62028 |
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Tuesday
through
Saturday
10:00 A.M.
till 5:00 P.M.
Sundays
1:00 P.M. till
5:00 P.M.
Other Hours
By Chance or Appointment
Phone
618-466-8624
Or Toll Free
1-888-334-8312 |
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The Twentieth Century's fast pace has left many
Americans longing for a simpler lifestyle. Thus our country's rekindled
interest in its own past. Although life in early America was by no
means easy, neither was it cluttered with the nonessential. We at Crocker
and Springer have a deep respect for the value of this sentiment. Through
extensive research of our forefathers' folk pottery, we have come to
appreciate the integrity of crafts made when our country was young. These
early pieces evoke images of hard-working people who carried out daily tasks
with pride and dignity. Even though function was the intent of most
every item in a settler's home, folk craftsmen were dedicated to forming
objects that were also rich in beauty. This commitment to craftsmanship
is our goal at Crocker and Springer. Our stoneware is thrown and decorated
by hand without the assistance of molds and stencils. It is then stacked
rim to rim and fired in a large salt kiln. |
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We are enthusiastic about what
we do -- our business is more than just work to us. Our choice of primitive
and labor intensive production methods ensures an early American reproduction
of authenticity, strength, integrity and beauty. We hope that you,
too, appreciate the values that our work represents and that you will enjoy
building a collection of truly authentic early American reproductions to
display and use. |
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Nationally recognized artisans,
Jan and Jonathan Wright, hand craft an assortment
of Early American Folk Pottery. Selected as one of Early American
Homes magazine's "Top 200 American Craftsmen", 1991 - present. |
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Jan decorating a 2-gallon crock.
Detail, decoration in progress |
Unfired pottery
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PENNSYLVANIA PRESERVE CROCKS. These tall, distinguished variations
on the standard preserve crock were most commonly made in the Pennsylvania
area. The slender, elegant form of this type of crock was usually accented
with simple, vertical brushstrokes. |
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CAKE POT. Cake pots were used for both storage and baking.
Breads, cookies, biscuits, and other baked goods were commonly kept fresh
under their lids. Fruit cakes were baked in them, and then brandied and stored
for long periods of time. |
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LOG CABIN BANK. Whimsical banks such as these were made for special
occasions, and usually by custom order. Originally made with no hole in the
bottom (thus the expression "break the bank"), we've modernized our banks
by popular demand, through the addition of a hole and rubber stopper! |
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STRAIGHT CROCK. Straight-sided crocks were made in great
abundance by potteries in early America. These vessels were durable and served
a variety of purposes, from canning and pickling to storage of dry goods.
Their simple form allowed them to be stacked rim to rim in the kiln and fired
in tall columns, making them a very practical and economical item to produce. |
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FACE JUG. Face jugs, also called "ugly jugs," were made most commonly
in the southern United States by slaves. Believed to protect the maker, these
jugs were sometimes used as grave markers, in order to protect the soul of
the departed potter. Some potters made them simply for fun during off hours,
in order to relieve the tedium of the daily routine. Face jugs, both old
and new, have become quite collectible. |
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PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN WIDE-MOUTH JAR. Jars such as this one were
early versions of canning crocks. These jars stored a variety of foods, ranging
from dry goods to salted or smoked meats. The jar's curved sides were indicative
of an earlier period in history, when potters formed each pot individually
on the wheel. During the later period, before crockery was replaced by glass,
mass production techniques straightened the sides of the crock. |
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CHICKEN BANK. Whimsical banks such as these were made for special
occasions, and usually by custom order. Originally made with no hole in the
bottom (thus the expression "break the bank"), we've modernized our banks
by popular demand, through the addition of a hole and rubber stopper!
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CHICKEN JUG BANK. Whimsical banks such as these were made
for special occasions, and usually by custom order. Originally made with
no hole in the bottom (thus the expression "break the bank"), we've modernized
our banks by popular demand, through the addition of a hole and rubber stopper! |
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BUTTER CROCK. Originally made in large sizes, butter crocks
were used by dairy farmers for transporting quantities of butter to market.
When properly prepared, butter could be stored in these crocks for many months. |
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PIE BIRDS. Pie birds date back to Old England, and came to America
with the early settlers. The hollow bird was placed into the top crust of
a meat or fruit pie. This unique vent kept the contents of the pie from bubbling
over and making a mess inside the oven. When steam began to escape from the
bird's mouth, the baker knew that the pie was ready. |
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25337 Beltrees Road
Elsah, IL 62028
618-466-8624
Or Toll Free 1-888-334-8312
jonjanwright@earthlink.net |
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