More than 30 years ago, a South Dakota collector who goes only by Rick paid $750 for a 30-gallon Red Wing stoneware crock at an auction, storing it in an old granary on his farm, where it sat largely forgotten for decades. It wasn't until he saw photos of a nearly identical crock selling for $32,000 in January that he realised what he had. Here's how a routine farm auction find turned into a rare twin to one of the most talked-about crocks in the antiques world. Collectors believe as many as six of these butterfly-decorated crocks exist, with Rick's now recognised as the fourth known example.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
