This is a large stoneware lidded storage crock or pot. It is an antique piece of Scottish Pottery and was made by Buchan Pottery, which was based at Portobello, near Edinburgh (now closed).
This big pot would have stored butter in an old-fashioned grocers. You could also buy the whole crock is you had a business which used a lot of diary products. The name of the retailer has been impressed on the front of this crock - John Kemp & Co, Musselburgh. It appears that Kemps were a wine and spirit merchants based at 25 High Street in Musselburgh. In more recent times the address has housed hairdressers and a decorating company.
The crock was designed to store 12 lb of butter (a wine and sprits retailer also sold groceries at the end of the 19th century / beginning of the 20th century). The contents weight is annotated on the side. It also has the impressed mark for Buchan Pottery, as photographed.
The main body is glazed stoneware with a band of treacle glaze around the top and it runs down the sides. These crocks were not works of great refinement - and made rather roughly as befitting their function as sturdy storage containers.
The main body of the crock is in good display condition. There has been restoration to rather large, but shallow, chips on the base. It looks fine and I have photographed the restored base for your inspection. The damage has probably occurred when the heavy pot and contents were clumsily put down on the shop counter top in the distant past.
There is generally no other damages and the old crock looks just fine and dandy on display.
The lid is present and in pretty good antique condition with no chips or cracks to it. The lids were often chipped - as they were quite heavy - and were constantly lifted on and off the pot over many years. Given the weight of the lid - I am quite amazed that it has not been damaged. I have also photographed the underside of the lid so that you can see it is undamaged.
There are two built in carrying handles to the side - these are intact.
It is a bit of a showstopper size wise as far as these storage containers go - and it would look lovely in a country cottage or farm shop.
The height is just over 9 inches - the diameter at the widest point is nearly 10 1/4 inches. It is 4.5 kg unpacked - so sadly UK Posting only.
My asking price is a fair one for such a large example complete with lid (displays well despite the restore chips). These are now highly collectable as antique antique advertising items - as well as their interesting local history. The issue with the base has been taken into consideration with my pricing for this beast of a pot!
This large crock will have to be sent to you with Parcelforce24 Recorded Delivery. This will be very carefully packed up to keep safe in transit. This will be applied to your order at the checkout.