Nebraska Grandmother's Porch Pottery Piece Sells for Staggering Sum After Near-Miss Garage Sale
A 91-year-old grandmother from central Nebraska has experienced a remarkable financial windfall after a piece of antique pottery she nearly sold for a mere $20 fetched an astonishing $32,000 at auction. Lois Jurgens, who is now celebrating her unexpected fortune, had kept the large, hand-painted Red Wing stoneware crock on her porch for over four decades before deciding it was time to part with it.
From Garage Sale Consideration to Auction House Discovery
In the summer of 2024, Jurgens contemplated selling the 30-gallon crock at a garage sale for just $20. However, fate intervened when she later contacted the Bramer Auction House to inquire about its potential value. This decision proved to be incredibly fortuitous, as the crock was identified as an extremely rare artifact.
The auction took place on January 10, 2025, in Phelps County, coinciding with Jurgens's birthday. Approximately 300 people attended the event, though Jurgens herself missed the initial bidding due to a funeral that morning. She arrived later in the afternoon, unaware of the dramatic outcome.
A Heartwarming and Shocking Revelation
Auctioneer Ken Bramer spotted Jurgens in the crowd and invited her to the front, informing the audience that she was the owner of the crock that had just been sold. He then asked her to guess the final price. "Well, I hope you got $100," she replied optimistically.
Bramer's response left her utterly stunned: "We did just a little bit better. We got $32,000." The news was so overwhelming that Jurgens began to collapse and had to be supported by Bramer's wife and son, who helped steady her as she processed the life-changing sum.
Extreme Rarity Drives Exceptional Value
According to Red Wing stoneware experts, the crock's immense size and unique characteristics make it exceptionally rare. "It’s 30 gallons, which makes it extremely rare. It’s got stenciling on the side, which is not common at all," one specialist noted. "There's probably four or five of them out there in the entire world."
The crock was crafted in the late 1800s using clay sourced from Red Wing, Minnesota. Historically, such crocks were used to store various items, including meat, vegetables, dairy products, and occasionally even gas.
Significant Interest and Historical Comparisons
Ken Bramer reported that the crock attracted substantial interest after photographs were shared on social media platforms. One eager buyer even offered $10,000 in cash for immediate collection, hoping to secure the piece before the auction.
This sale far surpassed previous transactions for similar items. A comparable crock sold for $12,750 in 2012, and Bramer recalled another fetching close to $25,000, making Jurgens's $32,000 result a standout achievement in the collectibles market.
This extraordinary story highlights how everyday items, often overlooked or undervalued, can conceal significant historical and monetary worth, transforming lives in the most unexpected ways.
