Welcome to Mar-crest. A web site devoted to vintage 1950's - 60's Old Fashioned Stoneware. Collectors refer to the pattern as Daisy and Dot, the glaze finish (color) as Warm Colorado Brown and the style (motif) as Pennsylvania Dutch. Before you leave, I hope you'll check out some of the great Mar-crest images found on nearly every page. Many of the pictures have been donated by fellow collectors.
In 1906, 7 potteries merged together to form the Western Stoneware Company, located in Monmouth, IL. They were: Weir Pottery, Monmouth Pottery, Macomb Stoneware Co., Macomb Pottery Co., D Culbertson Stoneware Co., Clinton Stoneware Co. and the Fort Dodge Stoneware Company. Western Stoneware produced the Warm Colorado Brown line of Marcrest dinnerware (and maybe some of the pastels as well). WS closed their doors in 2006 after 100 years of operation, but quickly re-opened thanks to 3 original employees.
Hull was said to have produced the pastel colored pieces: Mar-crest ball pitchers, tea pots, tumblers, plain cups and oblong ashtrays marked Mar-crest. Read more about my understanding of the Hull / Mar-crest connection on the Hull Mar-crest page here.
Price list photo courtesy eBay seller beverly564 (Click to enlarge) Edited and restored by Shawn
Please look for current Mar-crest values in the newly released, full color, Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual Seventeenth Edition (March 2009, by Sharon and Bob Huxford, Collector's Books). It was an honor to once again be the price guide contributing advisor for Mar-crest daisy and dot dinnerware.
Mar-crest Colorado Brown OvenProof Stoneware was available at Safeway, A & P, IGA, Loblaws and Kroger grocery stores half a century ago, and quite possibly through Top Value Stamps. Were there other stores that sold Mar-crest? Was it advertised or seen in any magazines, movies, or commercials?
Was Mar-crest available in movie theaters (dish night) and Western Auto's? I haven't spoke with anyone yet that recalls this firsthand. From what I've gathered in the reading I've done the past few years, dish night at the movies was when a piece of china was given away to movie-goers to boost attendance during the war. Depression glass and Fire-King have been named, but I've not heard of Mar-crest as a part of these give-aways.
If you've ever searched "Mar-crest" on the internet, you've probably noticed something. Much of the information seems to have obviously been copied (or reworded) from only a couple of informative web sites. Sometimes, the rewording gets pretty far away from the facts.
Have you seen online auctions showing Mar-crest carafe coffee servers with round cork stoppers or copper lids? Mar-crest pitchers with lids being called coffee pots? Mar-crest escargot skillets? Bundt pans? Pie plates that have unglazed sides and unglazed, unmarked bottoms? This has to be confusing to new collectors. Mar-crest lidded pitchers and carafes, escargot skillets, bundt pans, butter dishes, loaf pans, covered cheese dishes, candle sticks and napkin rings were not produced.
There were so many different potteries in the 50's and 60's (McCoy, Hull, Hall, Kathy Kale, California Pottery, Pflatzgraff, etc.) that made pieces looking very similar to Mar-crest. It's easy to see how, through the years, odd lids have ended up on pieces they did not originally belong to. Look at the lid very carefully before bidding or buying to make it goes with the item for sale. Oftentimes, the seller is not the original owner. When asked, the seller may think that it is a perfect match if the lid seems to fit, and is very similar in color. If you have any doubts about the correct lid for a Mar-crest piece, visit the Pictures page on this site and compare.
Rare Mar-crest daisy and dot Well 'n Tree style meat platter. Photo courtesy eBay's martymorgan.
Recently, I've noticed several online auctions and web stores identifying different stoneware and pottery pieces as Mar-crest, or they're listing their odd pottery items in the Western Stoneware / Monmouth / Marcrest category. Many times, these misidentified pieces are even being called rare. I've emailed some of these sellers, kindly advising them that their item is, for example, Hull, Hall, McCoy, Kathy Kale or California Pottery, and point them to other auctions or respected reference sites, showing the difference.
The majority are usually very nice, edit their listing and even thank me for the information. Most people are good and honest. Though I have had a few "Whatever", or "Thanks for your input" replies where no change was made to their description and they continued to keyword spam.
I'd like to believe that most of these sellers simply have made an honest mistake in identifying their item. Surely no one would purposely misidentify a piece of pottery by calling it a rare and hard to find, in an attempt to fool beginning collectors and hopefully draw higher bids. That's why it's important for collectors to become very familiar with what Mar-crest looks like. Know the sizes and measurements. Pay close attention to the lid to make sure it matches the item it rests on, and make sure it's the correct size lid for the piece. If the rim of a "bowl" is unglazed, that means a lid belongs to the piece, and it's not a mixing bowl. (Exception being the small, individual sized handled casserole dish. Finished rim, but some have a lid.) Learn which pieces really are rare or hard to find.
Please help to keep Mar-crest.com online and pop-up free. Consider making a safe and secure PayPal donation. I've been the sole support since its inception in 2005. Any amount you can donate will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much! ♥ Rita
"My wife and I have used a Mar-Crest banded brown glazed mixing bowl for 20 years. Beautiful, durable and useful. I bought a small 5 inch bowl to go with a couple years ago.
Nifty web site with lots of information and pictures. Thank you. I saw the site and Rita mentioned in Collectors News [Magazine, April 2008 edition]." Brian in Indianapolis, IN
"Just happened on to your site. Wow! Very informative and visual! Thanks for all the info...I have many pieces that have been ignored but now will clean up and cherish...!" Julie in TX
"... I am delighted to see that other have the same passion for this pottery that I have. I currently have over two dozen peices of my beloved stoneware and I am a faithfull collector. I have been collecting for years and am very excited to see your site. Thank you for enjoying this as much as I do!"... Martha in MI
"Hi, I just want to thank you for your informative site to stoneware that I stumbled across while doing a web search. :o) I recently bought a lidded piece at the goodwill for $2.99, and had no idea what it was. After reading your information, I now know it is a daisy dot lidded french handled casserole dish! I love it!... You have some lovely pieces. Thanks again...!" Janice in OR
"I looked at your web site and am impressed. I started collecting in the early 50's....Thank you for brightening my day with your web site. Martha." Martha in TX
"I am really excited about your website. I used to check out J T Letowski's website [Marcrest Man] for Marcrest, in fact many of the pics on that site are mine, taken from my collection quite a few years ago. Much of my collection is now in boxes in bedroom closets and under beds, and even in the garage. I keep out about 100 pieces on the "Marcrest Wall" in the kitchen. I am also excited to see how many unique pieces on your site that I have never seen before...I wonder when the last unique piece of Marcrest will be found!" Joe in GA
Several online stores and auctions have recently shown us some rare, hard to find Mar-crest items. These have included round (barrel) pitchers, square bowls, oven skillets, pastel pieces and ball shaped pitchers. Chop plates, tidbit trays, frosted chip 'n dip sets ... even a curved handle oval shaped batter pitcher and a couple of oval serving platters.
My sincere thanks to all who have kindly donated their Mar-crest pictures, memories and PayPal donations. Please keep those great pictures, memories, suggestions and emails coming!
My intent is to keep this site current and factual, and give viewers and fellow collectors the opportunity to share what they remember about Mar-crest when it was being produced, given away as a premium, sold at stores and through order forms. Use the form below to send references, stories, comments or suggestions, or to just say hello. (But please ... no pricing or appraisal requests or spam.) Your personal information will not be stored, sold or shared, and you will not be placed on any mailing list. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
* * * No appraisals or spam, please. * * *
Photo courtesy eBay seller 4081francine
Send pictures of your collection, rare pieces or original boxes here that may be added to site. We'd love to see them.
