Another great example of A. D. Ruckel's Stoneware we have had the privilege of offering. It seems they are far and few in between being made by one of the lesser-known stoneware companies. In White Bristol Slip glaze this crock is about in as good of condition as you would expect for its age and will display nicely with beautiful crazing on the interior and exterior of the crock. There is a shallow exterior rim chip as shown in the photos otherwise just normal factory clay and glazing defects.

Overall Dimensions: Height: 14" Diameter: 13" Weight: 23 lbs

Shipping – *Free to the Lower 48 States (see below)

Please review all pictures carefully as they are considered part of the description.

Crocks make excellent gifts for any occasion and continue to become rare and are found being passed on as family heirlooms from generation to generation.

History of the A.D Ruckel's Pottery is easier to find than the product. The following shares some interesting information regarding Ruckel's Pottery.

Selected excerpts from a typed memoir by Mrs. A. F. Worcester in 1960. "The Town Clean Dirt Made Famous - - - Pottery Town."

The Ebey pottery works was transferred by my father in his brother Charles B. in 1882 to D. C Banta, who in 1883 deeded and those lots and pottery to A.D. Ruckel who had operated a pottery since 1870, which was located across the C and A tracks near the grain elevator. Mr. Ruckel invented and erected the first flash wall kiln used in White Hall and it afterward came to use in the stoneware world. A machine for making pots had been invented by Gaylord Martin of Ripley in 1899, and this machine was utilized, Mr. Ruckel. This marked the beginning of the end of the old kick wheel in turning ware by hand.; (taken from Clay Products). In 1936 C. A. and Nora Ruckel, owners of the A.D. Ruckel company transferred their well-established business to a worthy employee, R. F. Barnett, former bookkeeper, and manager. Source: http://www.bluewhitepottery.org/the-white-hall-pottery-center--greene-county--illinois.html

During the 1800s, there were more than 400 potteries in Illinois, according to Gregory Vogel, assistant professor of anthropology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Chicago had the most, but the little towns of Ripley and White Hall weren’t far behind. Between 1825 and 1948 White Hall, about 64 miles southwest of Springfield, had 39 commercial potteries. For a while, ceramics was one of the town’s top industries.

Potters made water jars, butter churners, crocks and jugs of various sizes, pitchers, bowls, decorative objects, and much more. Some pottery made in White Hall is considered highly collectible today and can sell for several hundred dollars per piece.

The later pottery companies in White Hall built factories and used steam power to manufacture their goods. One was established by Ebey’s son, Charles, who later sold it to A. D. Ruckel. (Ruckel pottery is well known among collectors.) At one time Ruckel’s White Hall Pottery Works shipped 300 railway cars full of pottery annually, according to the Greene County Days’ guidebook. Source: https://illinoistimes.com/article-7722-when-central-illinois-was-king-of-ceramics-and-pottery.html

Some interesting history of White Law, Illinois with mention of Ruckles Stoneware Company can be found here. https://greene.illinoisgenweb.org/pdfs/1911whitehallsouvenir.pdf

To assure you receive the best care for your purchase, we personally package each crock to maintain consistency and provide the most possible protection during its travel to its new owner. We are told we "Gorilla proof" them. Crocks are shipped via FedEx Ground and are insured for the full amount of your purchase.

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