Antique English printed stoneware

Still trying to figure out why

we are so crazy

for these 

little printed

English stoneware 

pots and crocks.

I think

that it probably 

has something to do

with a love for 

the printed word, fonts,

and artful lettering.

These little beauties date back to a time

before there were paper labels.

And though some of them

are printed by transfering

a tissue with wet ink

that had been stamped 

using a copperplate 

(started during the 1820's through the start of WWI),

others even 

OLDER

have their lettering 

impressed into the stoneware

before it was glazed and fired.

So if you are out shopping

and you run across one of these items --

 be sure to run your fingers

over the printed letters

to determine if they are old

or

if they are 

really old!