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Stoneware collectors deal with more than old clay crocks and flowerpots.

Most consider the history of the piece of greater importance than its value.

‘‘Instead of ‘how much is it worth?’ it’s more important to ask ‘What did the woman use that for? What did she put in it?’ That’s what’s important,’’ said Bruce Stottrup, of Fort Dodge, a member of the Fort Dodge Stoneware Collectors Society.

That group will meet Feb. 17 at the Best Western Starlite Village in Fort Dodge, offering a program, a show-and-tell, silent auction and giveaways. Although the club has more than 100 members from a five-state area — Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Iowa — only about half of them show up for the quarterly meetings.

Society president Jack LaBaume, of Fort Dodge, said all meetings are open to the public, and it’s hoped that more people will attend, then decide to join the club. In his 11th year as president, he said every member gets the Kilnsmoke newsletter, which will keep them up to date on club activities. The group also has a Web site: www.fdscs.org.

‘‘Stoneware is an art,’’ LaBaume said. ‘‘They took the mud and turned it into containers. It was all done by hand.’’

To him, the excitement of collecting comes with finding a rare piece, beautiful in its simplicity.

‘‘I’m not a how-mucher myself,’’ he said. ‘‘I love the historical part of it. If I get a piece, I want to know everything I can about this piece. I’m more interested in the historical aspect.’’

He shares his knowledge of Fort Dodge stoneware by talking to groups and giving presentations at such places as the Brown Bag Briefings, held at the Fort Dodge Public Library. He also portrayed Martin White, who started the business of stoneware in Fort Dodge, at the Cemetery Walk.

‘‘People are interested in the pieces and the history more than the technical part,’’ he said.

That doesn’t mean, however, that he can’t tell you to the exact amount how much silica, alumina or iron oxide was needed in a batch of clay, but he says the technology isn’t as important to a collector.

A Webster County geology report in 1901 read, in part: ‘‘Clay number one is a good pottery clay, as will be seen by comparing it with the analysis of pottery clay from Zainesville, Ohio, ... which enjoys a wide reputation. The low percentage of iron prevents discoloring and the small quantity of water ensures the material against checking.’’

Found in the Fort Dodge area, the clay provided a thriving business in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. More in the geology report read: ‘‘The wares produced are jugs, jars and butter crocks. Many large pieces of 20 to 35 gallons capacity are made. The clay used in these articles is obtained from a mine in the coal measure shales on the left bank of the river, a half mile above Fort Dodge. It burns uniformly for the (molds). Considerable skill is shown in the glazing, and the appearance of the ware put on the market is attractive. The annual output is valued at $30,000.’’

That’s about as close to valuing his stoneware as LaBaume ever gets, and that tells only the quantity of stoneware sold.

Stottrup also stresses the historical aspect of collecting stoneware.

‘‘Knowing about our past allows us to chart our future,’’ he said. ‘‘When kids say there’s nothing to do in Fort Dodge, they should study the past, dig into it at the library.’’

Going to the library, joining groups like the Stoneware Collectors Society and talking to grandparents and other older people are good ways to beat the winter blahs and learn something at the same time, said the former middle school life science teacher.

‘‘Knowledge is power,’’ Stottrup said. ‘‘By going to the library or talking to a relative, you gain knowledge, and knowledge is power.’’



Contact Sandy Mickelson at (515) 573-2141 or smickelson@messengernews.net

 

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