Shipping Times
Due to the popularity of our USA-made water bottle dispensing crocks, which are still hand-made in small batches, you can expect a 3-4 week lead time for the blue stripe. Most colors, including white and personalized items, are custom-made to order and may take approximately 8 weeks to ship.
Overview — Authentic American Craftsmanship
Our USA-made stoneware water bottle crock offers a durable, stylish alternative to plastic dispensers. Handmade in small batches with lead and cadmium-free, food-safe stoneware, this ceramic water dispenser crock supports 2-5-gallon glass or plastic water bottles — perfect for kitchen counters, farmhouse decor, or self-sufficient living.
Designed for Everyday Use
Unlike imported options, our crock features:
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Food-safe, lead & cadmium-free stoneware
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The base by itself provides a generous 2-gallon capacity without a water bottle.
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Includes a pottery lid for use without a bottle
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A classic aesthetic that elevates both function and décor.
Whether you want a rustic farmhouse kitchen water dispenser or an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bottles, this product delivers long-term performance.
Customization & Style
Choose from a range of hand-painted options (Blue Stripe, Texas, Wildflower, and more) to match your kitchen or home aesthetic. Add personalization to create a unique gift—ideal for housewarmings, weddings, or holidays.
Why Choose Stoneware?
Stoneware outperforms typical ceramic and plastic dispensers by offering:
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Better insulation and stable hydration
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Natural materials free from harmful chemicals
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Timeless design that complements rustic and modern interiors
How To Use
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Place your 2- to 5-gallon bottle on top of the crock with the neck down inside. If you are using glass bottles, you will need to use a poly tube ring, as outlined below, to provide a barrier between the glass and glazed pottery surfaces.
- Dispense with the installed spigot.
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Easily clean with warm water and dish soap as needed. The base is also dishwasher safe.
Customer Satisfaction
Our handcrafted pieces are created in limited batches to ensure quality and authenticity. Expect a 3–8-week custom production window due to the careful craftsmanship.
The lid size is 6" for those who are looking to use this crock with a water filter collar designed to fit the neck of a 5-gal water bottle. See more on the top measurements below and in the thumbnail picture.
The standard color is priced in a blue stripe. You may select other colors from the drop-down menu. 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 feature flowers in both blue and peach, arranged on opposite sides of the stoneware.
See color samples and click to enlarge pictures of various product examples. When different colors are selected from the drop-down boxes, the +$ amount will be added to the price above. The white will match the other blue-stripe products. Depending on its position in the kiln, the actual white may range from cream to white, with a grayish hue or even a tan/beige cast—another characteristic of old-fashioned hand-turned pottery.
Stoneware may also be personalized for $12 via the drop-down menu at the top of the page. In the comment section at checkout, please leave the name you would like added. Personalized names and messages will be hand-painted.
The Vietnamese crock pictured was ordered in the wildflower color and personalized with the Vietnamese saying, as in the brown barn picture example, personalized with the family name. If you select only colors, such as wildflower or brown barn, the writing will not be included unless you also upgrade to personalize it.
The water bottle dispenser may be used with either a plastic or a glass 5-gal 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, provided they have the same neck size as the five-gallon; most are 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 stands 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. Clear tubing is available locally at stores such as Ace Hardware.
The actual weight is 14 lbs, but it ships with 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 at an ISO 9000-certified factory. The spigot is NSF-certified and made of FDA-grade polypropylene. It meets ASTM Standard D4101 specifications. Polypropylene has been identified as a safer alternative to BPA-containing 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 receive requests for stainless steel spigots, but we do not offer them. We haven’t found a consistent supplier yet, but we're sharing this link to an Amazon account from one of our customers. A picture of his personalized crock with the spigot is also shown in the thumbnails.
The spigot will not be installed for shipping protection. To install, insert the spigot with the rubber washer, bevels facing each side of the opening. 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, then hold the nut while turning the outside spigot to 12 o’clock (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 the nut is loose, loosen it and turn the spigot to 6 o’clock, and repeat the steps. Note: Over-tightening can push the rubber washers aside, causing them to leak. Check the bottom for wetness over several days.
Because pottery is hand turned, dimensions may vary slightly. Stoneware pottery may also develop minor imperfections during firing and glazing. All food contact surfaces are inspected for such imperfections before shipping. The exterior may have imperfections that enhance the stoneware's character.
Lids for stoneware pottery are made the same way as 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 to prevent them from sticking during the process. The original lids were made the same way as those on antique crocks and churns.
Glass water bottle users: the old-fashioned, USA-made water bottle crocks are still hand-turned and do not use standard measurements, unlike 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 have a solution that allows you to continue using glass bottles with these USA dispensers. Click Here to read our blog on an alternative tube protective ring.
This is not an issue for users of plastic water jugs, as they do not require the protector ring. On the old-style glass jugs, the plastic protector acts as a buffer, preventing the glass and pottery glaze from scratching 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 Coasts. The item must be double-boxed or shipped in an oversized box to protect the pottery during transit, and carriers set rates based on the box's overall dimensions. These rates are based on “Dimensional Box Weight” instead of the actual product weight. The shop must also cover the cost of all extra boxes and packing materials, so an additional $5 is included in the overall shipping cost.
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 charge 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 several reasons, moisture may develop beneath the crock: water running down the sides during filling, a leaking spigot, or condensation from temperature variations in the liquids 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 is not available. In your search for stands, look for plant stands, as they are typically made of materials that withstand water and feature a wider or flared leg base to stabilize the table better when placing water bottles on top.
