Question:
Hello, I picked up these dishes at an estate sale and although someone had marked them "Red Wing, Village Green Vegetable Bowls" they are not marked and do not appear to be like other Village Green pieces I find online. There are 4 glazed bowls (approx 8" diameter) in excellent condition. The bottoms are a mustard yellow. Any ideas if these are really Red Wing? There is a piece on Replacements.com under redwing but they just have it marked REW12. It seems to match these but I am not sure. I was told they might be an earlier Village Green pattern. I would really appreciate the help and thanks so much!!! Erica
Answer: Your bowls were indeed made by Red Wing, and they are scarce. They are Rim Soup bowls in the Village Green shape but in an alternate color. The standard dark "Rustic Brown" color on the bottom of the bowl was replaced by a tan or wheat color. Collectors often refer to this green and tan color combination as "Village Wheat", although no documentation has been found and the official name (if any) is uncertain. An interview with a Red Wing Potteries employee published in the RWCS Newsletter a few years ago stated that only a few sets of Village Wheat were made, including 4 or 5 water coolers. The idea was dropped because of lack of interest and was never put into full production. Village Wheat items are valued by collectors, though owners often do not recognize them as Red Wing. Village Wheat pieces seldom come up for sale, but I’d estimate the value of these bowls to be in the range of $30 to $50 each if they are in excellent condition.
Larry