L. B. Dilliner 6 Gallon Decorated Striper Crock

Circa 1870s: With the expanded interest in the stoneware collecting field, and especially in the striped stoneware of West Virginia and Southwest Pennsylvania, finding unusual examples of this type of stoneware has become increasingly difficult because of its high demand and relatively low supply. This incredible six gallon storage jar from New Geneva PA potter L. B. Dilliner is rare because of its large size, its top to bottom exuberantly decorated surface that includes the potter's stencil and 10 stripes, and its originating from one of the smaller stoneware manufacturers in Fayette County. In other words, one doesn't come across a jar like this every day. Or week. Or month. Or year. Although having a factory firing burn from being placed too close to another big piece in the kiln, this storage jar remains in nearly as fired condition with no cracks or repairs and only a flake on the handle and two minor chips on the bottom of the its back base lip. We're enamored the variation of this visually stunning jar's naturally fired coloration and consider it part of the very inexact science of the potter's art.