Shipping Times
Because of the popularity of our USA-made water bottle dispensing crocks still being hand-made in small batches, you should expect 3-4 weeks to ship the blue stripe. Most of the colors including white and personalized items are custom-made per order and may take around 8 weeks to ship.
The lid size is 6" for those who are looking to use this crock with a water filter collar designed to fit the neck on a 5-gal water bottle. See more on the top measurements below and in the thumbnail picture.
The standard color is priced in blue stripe. You may choose other colors using the drop-down box. Colors are hand-painted and signed by the artist. Please note: the rooster, red apple, and summer splendor design is a decal and is not hand painted. The Poppy Seed design will include flowers in both blue and peach, which may be on opposite sides of the stoneware.
See color samples and click to enlarge pictures of various product examples. When the different colors are selected using the drop-down boxes the +$ will incrementally add to the above price. The white will be the same color as the other blue stripe products. Depending on where it is in the kiln the actual white colors may vary between cream and white with some grayish hue or even towards a tan, beige color. Another characteristic of old-fashioned hand-turned pottery.
Stoneware may also be personalized for $12 using the drop-down box option at the top of the page. In the comment section at checkout please leave us the name that you would like added or e-mail it to us. Personalized names and messages will be hand-painted.
The example of the Vietnamese crock pictured was ordered as a wildflower color and then personalized with the Vietnamese saying. The same as the brown barn picture example personalized with the family name. If you select just the colors such as the wildflower or brown barn it will not have the writing on it unless you also upgrade to have it personalized as well.
The water bottle dispenser may be used with either a plastic or glass 5-gal plastic water bottle. See the note below on how to make an easy glass bottle protector ring from clear tubing. Two-and three-gallon water bottles may also be used, as long as they have the same neck size as the five gallons, most are just made shorter.
Hand-turned pottery measurements will vary. The water bottle dispenser measures approximately 9-1/4” wide on the bottom diameter, 7-1/4” at the top diameter, and stand 10-1/4” tall. The top lid well (where the lid fits down in) is approximately 1" deep, with a 6-1/2" wide ledge for a 6" lid. Inside the ledge, the opening is approximately 5-1/2" wide to determine if different wide-mouth bottles and filters will fit. (See the picture of the top measurements in the thumbnail pictures.) This is also the ledge that will hold the coiled clear tube if used with glass water bottles as discussed below. The clear tubing may be purchased locally at stores like Ace Hardware.
The actual weight is 14 lbs. but ships dimensional weight.
Stoneware Pottery is USA-made in Texas by a small family-owned and operated pottery company, which has been making quality pottery for over 22 years. Each piece is hand turned by a master potter, hand-painted or finished, and then coated with a lead-free glaze.
The water spigot is also USA-made in an ISO9000 certified factory. The spigot is NSF certified and made of Polypropylene - FDA Grade. It meets ASTM Standard D4101 specifications. Polypropylene has been determined to be a safer alternative to BPA polycarbonate and other plastic products. The spigot fits in a 3/4" hole and has 7/8" of the thread.
From time to time we do have a request for stainless spigots which, we do not offer. We just haven’t found a consistent supplier but do offer this Link to an Amazon account that one of our customers shared. A picture of his personalized crock with the spigot is also shown in the thumbnails.
The spigot will not be installed to protect it during shipping. To install Insert the spigot with rubber washer bevels facing each side of the open hole. Place the spigot so that the handle top is pointing at 9 o’clock. Reach in and add the inside washer and nut. Hand tighten and then hold the nut while turning the outside spigot to 12 o’clock, or straight up. Add water up to and over the spigot inside. Place a napkin under the spigot and just under the front of the crock. Check for leaks over several hours. If leaking loosen the nut and turn the spigot to 6 o’clock and repeat the steps. Note: Over tightening will push the rubber washers to the side and may cause it to leak. Check the bottom for wetness over a period of days.
Because pottery is hand turned dimensions may vary slightly. Stoneware pottery may also develop small imperfections during the firing and glazing process. All food contact surfaces are inspected for such imperfections before shipping. The outside may have imperfections that add to the character of the stoneware.
Lids on stoneware pottery are made just like the old ones and then fired. To fire them, some of the bottom is left unglazed where they will sit in the kiln. This is so they do not stick during the process. The original lids were made the same as you can see on antique crocks and churns.
Glass water bottle users: the old-fashioned USA-made water bottle crocks are still hand turned and do not have the standard measurements as the imported water bottle crocks. Plastic glass bottle protector rings sold online for the imported crocks will not fit these larger unique USA versions. We do have a solution to be able to still use a glass bottle on these USA dispensers. Click Here to read our blog on an alternative tube protective ring.
This is not an issue for those using the plastic water jugs as they do not need the protector ring. On the old-style glass jugs, the plastic protector serves as a buffer to keep the glass and pottery glaze from scratching off into the water reservoir during water bottle changes.
Microwave, Oven, and Dishwasher Safe. The pottery is durable and functional for everyday use.
We also carry the old-fashioned water cooler crocks in 1-3 gallon sizes. Click Here for more information.
A Note About Shipping Cost
Shipping fragile pottery has become challenging and expensive, especially when it is shipped to the East and West Coast. The item must be double boxed or shipped in an oversized box in order to protect the pottery when shipped, and unfortunately, carriers determine their rates based on the overall dimensions of the box. These rates are based on “Dimensional Box Weight” instead of the actual product weight. The shop must also cover the cost for all the extra boxes and packing material so an additional $5 is built into the overall shipping
We don’t feel that it is fair to those living in the Midwest to "pad" the product price to cover shipping to all areas and then make it seem like we are offering free or discounted shipping. Therefore, please understand why we are charging the shipping that we charge. We try to keep prices as low as possible but we also want your new pottery to arrive safely.
A Note About Moisture
You will want to keep your water crock on a non-porous surface or use a barrier when placed on wooden stands or furniture.
For many reasons, moisture or dampness may develop underneath the crock from water running down the sides from filling, a leaking spigot, or from sweating caused by temperature variances in the liquids being used. A barrier such as a large plate, clear plexiglass, clear plastic flower pot protectors, or a ceramic tile square may help prevent potential moisture damage to wooden furniture tops.
Click Here to view our optional stoneware crock stand to elevate the crock up off a countertop.
We receive many calls about the wooden stand in the picture. This is a family antique table that we do not have available. In your search for stands, look for plant stands as they are generally made of materials for withstanding water, and they will have a wider or flared leg base to better stabilize the table when placing water bottles on top.