Crocks

The ORIGINAL Personalized Stoneware Two Gallon Crock from Cleverwares.com is an authentic piece of Americana and one with a storied history. When personalized with crisp lettering and artwork our crocks become a distinctively American way to greet guests and identify one's residence. The Personalized Two Gallon Crock is truly an American classic, gracing the entrance to tens of thousands of American homes for over a decade.

Since colonial times stoneware crocks have played an important role in the lives of Americans. Crocks were used in a variety of tasks but were especially critical in food preservation and storage. Initially crocks were imported from England, but soon potteries emerged throughout the colonies. By the time of the Civil War, huge clay deposits discovered in Ohio resulted in a large number of potteries producing functional ceramic wares. One of the longest-lived crock producers in the region, founded in Zanesville in 1904, was The Robinson Ransbottom Pottery. Their distinctive blue crown logo stoneware was a common sight in generations of American pantries.

In 1988 cleverwares.com's founder, Bob Cabral identified a clever new use for Robinson Ransbottom’s Two Gallon Crocks. Bob is a recognized product development expert and the leading broker of merchandise to American mail order catalogs. As president of Americraft, The Gift Brokers, Inc., Bob eventually established a personalization division at Robinson Ransbottom by showing them that their crocks could be sandblasted with designs and lettering just like cemetery monuments. By the early 1990's more than a dozen leading catalogs were offering Robinson Ransbottom’s Personalized Two Gallon Crocks featuring artwork created by Americraft.

When the Robinson Ransbottom Pottery closed its doors in 2005, Americraft searched the world to find the best source for a precise reproduction of the original crocks. We eventually found a pottery overseas which still uses the identical tools and processes used in early America and were delighted by their ability to faithfully reproduce the look, feel and quality of the original crocks. We regret that the Robinson Ransbottom crocks are no longer available, but ours are an exact reproduction, featuring the same distinctive beige exterior, rich chocolate brown interior glaze and substantial heft.

Our crock personalization is crafted in New England by a family with a long history in the monument trade. Their expert attention to detail and emphasis on customer service is sure to make your crock buying experience a pleasant one. We value your patronage and will do our utmost to make your selection of a Personalized Two Gallon crock both fun and easy.