Monmouth Crock

Q: Is this a cookie jar? It has an embossed mark of a leaf with the words “Monmouth, USA, Oven Proof.” The words “Western, the Great American Stoneware Factory” are printed in black in a circle.

A: Monmouth Pottery Co. started in Monmouth, Illinois, in 1892 and became part of Western Stoneware Company in 1906. The pottery made a variety of utilitarian wares. The words “oven proof” and the type of handles indicate this crock was meant to go in the oven to bake something. It’s probably a bean pot, not a cookie jar, which is missing its lid. The maple leaf mark was used until about 1930, so your bean pot was made between 1906 and 1930.