I have a new old salt-glazed pottery crock from the Stuttgart Saturday flea market — just the right size for a supermarket bouquet of tulips.
The market always has a lot of these pretty blue and grey pots, which were made in the Westerwald* region of Germany and range in size from egg cup to several liters. They are very affordable: normally about €5 to €12 for those big enough to hold kitchen utensils. I haven’t found anything particularly useful online about how to assess their age. The woman who sold me this one pointed out the circular ridges on its bottom as an indication that it was “very old.” But I’ve seen other pots labeled “antique” (late 19th century) on websites that have smooth bottoms. I think you just have to look for a pleasing pattern and patina combination.
To see what other garden bloggers have put in vases today, please visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
*between Bonn and Frankfurt.
enclos*ure 
Those tulips are so lovely in that vase! I think the one stripey one in the sea of deep reds is what give the bouquet is ultimate pizazz!
I think the stripey one (actually there are two in there) is why this bouquet was a euro more than usual.
I like your blog. I visited Windhoeck a couple of times for work years ago and enjoyed it — although I don’t think I’d like baboons in the garden. Have you had that problem?
That’s a perfect pot for the tulips. Those heavy heads and bright color really need something substantial. I also love your “double” tray full of small ceramics. Alas, it is snowing here and looks and feels very wintry. Though temps will supposedly be in the low 40s by the weekend.
The little cups in the tray are for sake. I’m so sorry about your cold weather. It’s hard when it arrives after weeks of a warmish late winter. I think the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., are going to get blasted this week too.
Yes, if it gives you pleasure and you are happy with the price you paid for it then age does not really matter – it certainly fits the bill for these tulips, and that stripey one is something else, isn’t it?!
I think it does have some age, but it could be 10 years or 70. I’m going to have to talk to the vendors at the market about how to tell.
Are there no pottery markings (letters or numbers or symbols) on the bottom? These are what usually identifies them.
I have not seen any markings on these crocks, other than a number indicating the amount of liters it will hold.
What a great find that pot is. Wonderful pattern and proportions and perfect for brightening up your home with flowers.
It will eventually hold wooden spoons in the kitchen. I think the blue and almost white with the red tulips creates a rather Dutch effect.
These tulips are lovely. I like the crock too. It shows off the tulips beautifully Happy Monday.
Thanks! We are having a nice sunny Monday here in Stuttgart, but I know that a lot of the U.S. is preparing for snow right now.
Stunning!
Thanks!
Both the tulips and the jug are lovely. They show off well in the light of that window.
That’s my morning light window.
Gorgeous color!
Tulips are wonderful. I have to get my fill in the next month or so.
Forty years ago when I was a science student, at evening classes I painted a still life. Our teacher brought a salt glazed pot for that. How strange years later to inherit from my husband’s Swiss parents a pot that echoes that painting. My pot is old, but not ‘antique’ I presume.