Local Woman's Vintage Crock Fetches $32K on Her Birthday
In a surprising turn of events, a rare vintage Red Wing Stoneware crock has sold for a staggering $32,000 at an exclusive auction in Nebraska. The unusual find was once thought to be worth around $50 and sat unassuming on the front porch of its owner, Lois Jurgens, 91, for four decades.
Jurgens had initially considered selling the crock at a garage sale, but her life took an unexpected turn when she learned that the auction house, Bramer Auction and Realty, was holding an exclusive sale of antique crocks. The owner, Ken Bramer, expressed initial doubts about including Jurgens' large vessel in the sale but changed his mind after learning about its rare features.
A closer inspection of the crock revealed a set of blue butterfly markings on the back, which instantly increased its value among collectors. The double-stamped design, featuring two distinct stamps – one larger and printed in black near the lid, and another smaller, unpainted at the base – solidified Jurgens' treasured possession as a rare find.
On the day of the auction, which took place on Jurgens' 91st birthday, she was unable to attend. The bidding process had already concluded before her arrival, with eager collectors from Texas, Kansas, and Iowa competing for the prized crock. In the end, Bramer announced that they had secured $32,000, exceeding Jurgens' estimated value of around $100.
The news left an elderly Jurgens weak in the knees as she discovered the outcome. She revealed to auctioneer Colleen Williams that this sale was one of the most exciting events of her 91 years of life.
In a surprising turn of events, a rare vintage Red Wing Stoneware crock has sold for a staggering $32,000 at an exclusive auction in Nebraska. The unusual find was once thought to be worth around $50 and sat unassuming on the front porch of its owner, Lois Jurgens, 91, for four decades.
Jurgens had initially considered selling the crock at a garage sale, but her life took an unexpected turn when she learned that the auction house, Bramer Auction and Realty, was holding an exclusive sale of antique crocks. The owner, Ken Bramer, expressed initial doubts about including Jurgens' large vessel in the sale but changed his mind after learning about its rare features.
A closer inspection of the crock revealed a set of blue butterfly markings on the back, which instantly increased its value among collectors. The double-stamped design, featuring two distinct stamps – one larger and printed in black near the lid, and another smaller, unpainted at the base – solidified Jurgens' treasured possession as a rare find.
On the day of the auction, which took place on Jurgens' 91st birthday, she was unable to attend. The bidding process had already concluded before her arrival, with eager collectors from Texas, Kansas, and Iowa competing for the prized crock. In the end, Bramer announced that they had secured $32,000, exceeding Jurgens' estimated value of around $100.
The news left an elderly Jurgens weak in the knees as she discovered the outcome. She revealed to auctioneer Colleen Williams that this sale was one of the most exciting events of her 91 years of life.
, I mean I've seen some crazy things in my life but this is just wild! Her vintage crock sold for like $32K on her birthday 
and she didn't even get to attend the auction party 
. I'm literally shaking thinking about how much that must have meant to her, 91 years young and still got a surprise gift like that 
. Can you imagine if you stumbled upon something like that in your attic or garage? You'd be rich for life, right? 
$32k for a crock? I mean, I get it, antique collectors can be crazy 
it's like finding a diamond in the rough, but instead of diamonds, it's a vintage crock with blue butterfly markings 
, but come on! The woman's been holding onto it for four decades, just waiting for someone to notice its beauty 
. And now she gets to enjoy the fruits of her labor... or should I say, the price of a lifetime collection 
. Maybe this sale will inspire more people to appreciate their grandma's old stuff 
. Either way, I'm kinda jealous – who wouldn't want a piece of history on their porch? 
It's crazy to think she almost gave it away at a garage sale 
. Guess you could say her birthday was pretty lit this year 
, and the fact that it was found by accident is pretty cool too 
, i wish my grandma had some weird stuff like that sitting around her house 
The fact that Lois Jurgens was just going to sell it at a garage sale is even more ridiculous now that we know its true value 
. And did they really need to make the birthday auctioneer announcement public? Like, can't keep it on the down low for one day? 
i mean, who needs garage sales when u have auction houses rn? 
. its amazing how a piece of pottery can hold so much value & significance 
Who knew that crock on her front porch had such hidden value? I mean, $32K is crazy, but it's great that she got to reap the benefits on her special day. It's really cool how Ken Bramer took a chance on including it in the auction and it paid off big time! 
I'm sure she'll get to enjoy that $$ on her birthday and maybe even treat herself to something nice. Can't wait to see what else comes up in the auction world!
But hey, being 91 and having that kind of luck is just the best, right? 
I'm sure Lois is totally thrilled and maybe even feeling like the queen of the world on her birthday now.