Iron Glaze Storage Crock with Kauri Lid by Barry Brickell

• Kauri - An evergreen conifer tree associated with New Zealand, but also grown in northern Australia, and islands around the Pacific rim including Borneo, Vanuatu and New Guinea. The timber is generally golden in colour, and straight grained without much knotting.
  
  A by-product of the kauri tree was the kauri gum, the fossilised resin extracted from the tree. The gum was obtained through digging, fossicking in treetops, or more drastically, by bleeding live trees. Kauri gum was used in the manufacture of varnishes and other resin-based products, and also crafted into jewellery, keepsakes, and small decorative items.
  
  Kauri forests were prolific in the north of the North Island of New Zealand. European settlers in the 1700 and 1800s realised that the timber from these tall trees with broad trunks would be ideal for ship building and construction and a thriving industry was established harvesting the kauri tree. The forests were substantially reduced, and now the remaining Kauri trees that grow in New Zealand are protected, and there are reserves in various areas of the North Island.
  
  The remaining stands of kauri in New Zealand are under threat from "kauri disease", a microscopic organism that causes dieback in the trees, with vast tracts either dead or dying.
• Stoneware Crocks - Stoneware crocks have a long history dating back to the 17th century in Europe. They were first made by German potters in the Rheinland region, and were known for their durability and resistance to thermal shock. These early stoneware crocks were typically made from a mixture of clay, feldspar, and flint, and were fired at high temperatures to make them strong and non-porous.
  
  The popularity of stoneware crocks quickly spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to America, where they were used by early settlers for food storage and preservation. They were particularly popular in the colonial period, where they were used for pickling and preserving food, as well as for fermenting and storing beverages like beer and cider.
  
  During the 19th century, stoneware crocks became even more popular in America, as they were used in the growing industry of commercial food preservation. Many potteries were established in the United States, making stoneware crocks for commercial use and for households.
  
  Stoneware crocks remained popular throughout the 20th century, but with the advent of modern food preservation methods, their use has diminished. However, they are still used today by many people who prefer traditional methods of food preservation and fermentation.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Brickell, Barry (New Zealand) - ceramics 304