15 gallon Redwing Crock

Question:
I recently submitted a question but have not seen an answer. I have become interested in collecting Red Wing stoneware after seeing it so often on eBay. I was surprised to see a Red wing piece for sale at the recent Adirondacks antique show in Indian Lake, N.Y. I bought it for $180.00 but think I may have gotten off to a bad start as far as collecting Red Wing stoneware. It’s a 15 gallon crock with a blue 15 and a large wing but no oval or bottom marking. It has a spigot on the bottom and a hole near the top on the right side when viewing from the front and is in excellent condition. It also has a cover in great shape that is not marked but has the petals and a bail handle and looks just like one I’ve seen in a Red Wing book. The cover has a more salt glazed look to it than the more white looking crock. Could this have been a water cooler or perhaps just something used to make something like pickles? Did I pay way too much? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Fred C.

Answer:
Fred, it sounds like you made an excellent purchase with your 15 gallon Red Wing crock with lid. The crock alone is valued in the area of $200 to $250 with the large wing and two spigot holes. The spigot if stamped "Central" and in good condition is valued at $50. The lid (being a little salty brings the price down some) is valued between $100 & $150. With all this being said, if your piece is as nice as it sounds, you should have no problems doubling your investment should you decide to sell it. Al Kohlman