03/17/2026
$32,000 for an old crock that almost ended up in a garage sale.
A 91-year-old woman in Nebraska had this big stoneware crock sitting on her back porch for decades. It had been in the family for generations and mostly just lived outside next to the grill collecting dust.
Her late husband even used it like a little side table while barbecuing. Utensils and platters would get set on top, and at one point they were even storing a spare propane tank inside it.
Eventually the family started talking about getting rid of it. It was heavy, in the way, and nobody thought it was anything special. A garage sale was seriously on the table and they figured maybe it would bring $20… maybe $100 if someone really wanted it.
Instead, she called a local auction that happened to be featuring antique crocks and asked if they could squeeze hers in at the last minute.
When the auctioneer came out and looked it over, he realized it was not an ordinary crock.
It was a 30-gallon Red Wing stoneware crock with the rare blue butterfly marking, “elephant ear” handles, and something collectors almost never see… two maker stamps instead of one.
The family was hoping maybe it would bring a few hundred dollars.
Auction day came and collectors started battling for it.
Final price: $32,000.
Not bad for something that spent decades sitting on a back porch next to a grill.
📸 Credit: Bramer Auction and Realty
