I pulled this crock from the muck of a cattle ford on a farm in Germantown Maryland, and as the consequence of a valuable lesson which I have learned over the years as a collector. At first glance this crock seemed no more than a shard, almost completely submerged in the muck, but my instincts suggested that I examine it, and it proved to be complete and in near perfect condition. Much as with an Anheuser Busch bottle with the embossed capital letter "A" and eagle motive, it appeared as no more than a fragment, but closer examination proved otherwise.
