Collectors of antique stoneware pottery or those desiring an antique/vintage look to their large country kitchens inevitably turn to ebay for quality antique/vintage stoneware. There is a fair amount of such crockery on ebay but it can be difficult to assess the age and value, especially since reproductions now abound!

Stoneware is the general category into which various types of yellow ware fit. Stoneware is any kind of heavy, nonporous, non-translucent pottery, such as jasper ware, that is fired at a high temperature. Yellow Ware is specifically defined by the color of the clay used, which is yellow. Not a yellow glaze, but yellow under a clear glaze. The color can range from a buff or even yellowed wheat color to a brighter yellow, depending on the clay, but it always has a clear glaze. That may be a little difficult for the novice to evaluate, especially if the piece has no decorations that would be covered by a glaze or no chips revealing the true pottery color, but always look to the bottom, for it is often unglazed, at least at the rim of the foot. Yelloware was produced in England and Scotland as early as the 16th Century and North America (including Canada) around 1840 and continues to be produced to this day. Yellowware is considered a transitional pottery between redware and finger whiteware. The items could be plain utilitarian items, or decorated with embossed designed or colored slip designs. The most beautiful are the "mocha ware" seaweed designs of blue on white slip. Because of that, these pieces are now being reproduced in great numbers so be careful when bidding that you are bidding on a genuine antique and not a new reproduction passed off as antique. It is a valuable lesson to search the internet for "reproduction yellow ware" and study the designs that are now being offered new before bidding on ebay.

Here are some quick points to look for in assessing the age and determining a realistic value for the yellowware stoneware item you are interested in

• First, how to search for Yellow Ware on ebay: You will notice that throughout this guide I have spelled the descriptive "yellowware" a number of different ways. That is because it is listed in a variety of ways on ebay, and if you don’t want to miss that really special piece, you should first go to Pottery and then search yellow. You will have many more choices to peruse but you likely won’t miss that one that is misspelled. The correct spelling of the term is "Yellow Ware" but since some yellowware is also MochaWare, you may want to add that term or do a separate search. Saving separate searches under "FAVORITE SEARCH" will make it much easier over time.
• The rarest items in yellow ware are defined by availability and decorative desirability. The least available and most decorative are usually the highest sought after. The most decorative forms are the SEAWEED MOCHA designs and fancy slip geometrics done with fingers and implements in thick slip, or sponged decorations. (Very early English Mochaware is actually a softer creamware, not the harder yellow stoneware). Collectors have shown a preference for the deeper hued yellow color, since the lighter colors were made later.
• You can determine the origin of your antique yellow ware by gently tapping it. English Yellow Ware will ring, whereas that produced in North America will thud. Careful though, because any pottery piece which has been compromised by a crack (even a repaired one) will also thud.
• Identifying the maker is often difficult, unless you can find a resource, such as a collector book or early catalogue that nails the decorative design and size. Makers included Weller, Bennington, Hull, Brush McCoy, but most pieces were unsigned, although some had impressed or embossed mold and size numbers on the bottom.
• And that brings us to condition. Collectors of very old pottery are always more forgiving of minor flaws, and some even evaluate age based on them. Since yellow ware was a utilitarian ware it had a first life in the kitchen or pantry that would show in age appropriate wear such as glaze crazing, minor bumps, rubs, even small old flakes. What you want to avoid are large chips and cracks. And remember, fraudsters will sometimes add fake crazing (via the type of glaze used and firing methods) and otherwise try to "age" their reproduction stoneware to get a higher price so become familiar with the difference in appearance in an old and new chip or crazing that is by design versus age.
• The type of piece will also dictate desirability. There are many more bowls, for example, than other types of wares. Bowls are also the most often reproduced. Rare forms include the very largest (13" and above) bowls and the very tiniest bowls (5" and below, including custard cups), but a quick alert here – there is a 3-1/2" reproduction tiny yellow ware bowl sold on the internet in great numbers for $7.95. Other rare desirable forms are lidded crocks, bottles or jugs, funnels, rolling pins, ladles, strainers and plates. Here again, do your research because some of these pieces are now being reproduced.
• If you are searching for yellowware to actually use in your kitchen, do not buy old! It had lead glazes and should not be used for food preparation if there is any break in the glazing and certainly not to store food in as the lead can leach into your food. You can buy sets of new yellowware with food-safe glazes at a number of stores. Buy and keep the old stuff for your collector shelf! Those of us who love old things collect out of a respect for the diminishing numbers of truly old things available. And nothing lends warmth to a country kitchen like the genuine article!

Enjoy your collecting! -- CHERIEGAL