A Nebraska grandmother, 91‑year‑old Lois Jurgens, decided to sell a large stoneware crock that had been sitting on her back porch for three decades. Her family assumed the old 30‑gallon Red Wing Stoneware crock might bring in $20–$100, and Jurgens herself hoped for maybe $300.
But when she contacted Bramer Auction and Realty, the auctioneer quickly realized the piece was special. The crock had rare features—two maker stamps, distinctive “elephant ear” handles, and was in unusually good condition. Those details sent collectors into a frenzy.
The final sale price? $32,000 — enough to buy a new car.
The winning bidder was an anonymous collector from Kansas. When Jurgens heard the number, she nearly went weak in the knees. Now she’s become a local celebrity known as the “Crock Lady,” and she’s enjoying every minute of the unexpected fame.