Question:
I was wondering if the paint used on the lotus pattern collection is lead based? Beautiful to admire, but safe to use? Thanks Kristy

Answer:
Lead-based glazes were commonly used in the pottery industry, and it’s my understanding Red Wing used them. The lead is in the shiny glaze that coats the plate, not in the colors used to decorate the plate. I do not know if lead-based glaze was used to produce Lotus dinnerware but most likely it was. Personally, I would consider a piece of Lotus with intact glaze to be safe to use. I would be more concerned about chipped or cracked pieces, or pieces with crazing in the glaze. (Crazing refers to fine cracks in the glaze that sometimes appear as the piece ages.) Thanks Larry

Question:
We recently went through boxes packed when my in-laws were alive. We discovered pieces of black and white dishes with Red Wing and what appears to be a red wing painted on the bottom of the pieces. The dishes are white with black roses (I think its roses). Is this actually Red Wing dinnerware/pottery? Thanks Linda

Answer:
Midnight Rose is the name of your dinnerware pattern. Plates in this pattern featured a rose drawn in black (like a pencil drawing) on a white background. The plates were marked "Red Wing" on the bottom with a pinkish-red ink stamp. Accessory pieces were made in solid black with white interiors, although the set could also be purchased with all-white pieces borrowed from the Tweed Tex pattern. Midnight Rose is one of six patterns made in the Anniversary shape, and it had the shortest lifespan of the six. It was made for only a couple of years in the mid-1950s. Apparantly the black color scheme did not catch on with buyers and the pattern was soon dropped. Thanks Jeff and Sue

Question:
I probably should have put the cups & saucers together and grouped
the items accordingly but I didn’t think about that until just now. **sorry** I also have a pitcher but it is still at my in-laws house and I think they have the cookie jar too. Not sure about lids to either of those pieces though. I love this set of dinnerware and even if it’s not worth much it holds sentimental value to me as it was my in-laws first set of dishes and a wedding gift to them. We have pictures of them using these pieces and the pictures alone are priceless to me. Thank you so much for your time and for your help. I hope these pictures are what you need, if not, let me know and I will re-take them in better groupings or sets. Thank you, Tina

Answer:
Tina, The photos you sent show a very nice set of Capistrano dishes. I will assume all of your Capistrano pieces are shown by the photos, with the exception of a pitcher and a cookie jar which were not available for the photos.

I would estimate the value of your collection as shown to be $350 to $450, assuming all pieces are in excellent condition. Chips, cracks, stains and other damage reduce the value significantly. As you stated, you have the serving pieces of a service for eight of (although I see only 7 cups). You are missing the covered sugar bowl and a set of salt & pepper shakers from what I would consider to be a basic set. If desired, these piece are readily available on the market.

You also have several nice accessory pieces. The egg plate is the most valuable of them, and you also have what appears to be a buffet bowl. (Hard to be certain without knowing the dimensions.) You mentioned a pitcher not in the photos. Two types of pitcher were made — a covered beverage server with a spout and an open water pitcher. You also mentioned a cookie jar. No cookie jar was made in the Capistrano pattern. But perhaps you have a casserole (round with a cover) or a soup tureen (elongated oval with a cover). The casserole is fairly common; the soup tureen is more difficult to find and thus more valuable.

I hope this information is helpful. While your set certainly has some value, it is not worth a fortune. Enjoy it for the memories it holds for you!

Larry

Question:
I have a cookie jar that was given to me by my mother a number of years ago. They rec’d it as a wedding present in the early 30’s. At one point I remember finding a value of $150. on it in a Red Wing book. My daughter has gotten into Ebay and brought to my attention that they have a listing for the Cat Tail Cookie Jar/approx 8" high-Cookies written on front on an angle/top and bottom in brown w/center in lite brown. She said it was listed beginning at 9.99 and has a bid of 18.00 todate. I looked it up and told her that it is a great deal and/or someone has something that they do not know the value of. Is this Mom nuts or is the seller? Thank you in advance for giving my question your attention. Sandra

Answer:
Sandra some people start their bids low, others have no clue as to what some things are worth. I used to inform people about paying high prices for new Van Briggle, but I have since given up a long time ago——– Caveat Emptor!! Your principles are good, thank you for that, but trying to educate the masses of Ebay is a daunting task. steve n rose

Question:
I am looking for an approximate value of the Red Wing dinnerware set- "Lotus Concord"- that was my grandmother’s. The following items are in the set:

1 Large Serving Platter
4 Large Serving Bowls
1 Relish Tray
1 Small Serving Tray
1 Small divided Tray
2 Serving bowls with lids
1 Butter dish
1 Sugar Bowl
1 Creamer
1 Coffee pot
1 Milk pitcher
1 Gravy boat
1 Small salt & pepper shaker
18 coffee cups with saucers
16 luncheon plates
16 bread plates
13 dinner plates
8 dessert plates
12 soup bowls
13 vegetable bowls

All of the dishes are in good shape, some of the plates have that "cracked" look. And I accidentally broke one of the handles off of one of the serving bowls w/lid, while washing it. That was when my aunt asked me if I ever looked into how much the dishes were worth. I said if you can’t use them, what is the point of having them. She suggested that I not use them until I find out, she thought I would be surprised since they are Red Wing.

Thanks for your help!

Answer:
Kris, Lotus is a very collectible pattern, although supply seems to be higher than the demand for the more common pieces in the pattern. You have a lot of the common pieces (cups, saucers, plates, bowls) and the numbers don’t match up. Essentially you have a service for 12 with numerous extra serving pieces along with quite a few accessory pieces.

You did not mention the color of your accessory pieces. They were made in chartreuse, gray or metallic brown (commonly called bronze or gunmetal). The values aren’t much different but a potential buyer well likely have a preference for one color over the others.

You describe the dishes as being in "good shape". Does that mean nearly perfect condition with no chips, nicks, cracks, hairlines or stains? Or does that mean good but used condition with a few of the usual chips and nicks that tend to occur with use? Collectors are looking for pieces in mint condition; even slight damage on a common pattern like Lotus will reduce the value significantly. The "cracked look" is called crazing, and most collectors will also reduce the value for crazed pieces.

Assuming near mint condition, I’d estimate the value of your set at $400 to $600. This may be a bit high because of the large number of common pieces included with your set. Buyers may not be willing to pay top dollar for so many extra common pieces. Again, damage will reduce this value.

Larry

Question:
I have a creamer& sugar(w/lid) set in the Capistrano pattern, EXCEPT this set is in a rust or a clay? color – the lid is the same as the green set. Could you please tell me something about it? So far, it must be "one of a kind"!!?? Also, I have two coffee cups in white/cream that I’ve not seen elsewhere – the Capistrano pattern. Thanks for any info you can supply!! Penny

Answer:
Penny, Without a photo it’s impossible to accurately assess pieces in non- production colors. Capistrano was one of six patterns made in Red Wing’s Anniversary shape. Production colors for Anniversary accessory pieces were Sage green, gray, white, black, Dawn pink, Shell pink, and turquoise. None of these could be mistaken for rust. Your rust colored pieces might be rare and unusual Red Wing test pieces. More likely they are post- production "hobby shop" pieces made from old Red Wing molds. Or maybe they are unglazed bisque pieces. Or they might be items from some other manufacturer that were "married" with your set because they fit well. It isn’t possible make a determination without a photo.

White cups in the Annversary shape were a standard production item, usually associated with the Tweed Tex pattern. Thanks Larry

Question:
I bought a box of misc old kitchen items from an auction and in this box was a small blue, possibly turquiose colored piece. It is two handled and about the size of a toothpick holder. The top is slightly wider than the bottom. It stands about 1 1/2 inches high and approx 2 1/2 inches wide. The marking on the bottom simply says Red Wing. It has a simple design across the front bottom. I do not have a picture but I attached a word doc drawing to give you an idea. Would you know what it is and i’s value if any? Thank you. Debbie

Answer:
Debbie, Your little bowl appears to be the sugar bowl from the Gypsy Trail Plain snack creamer and sugar set. This piece was made in both blue and turquoise, as well as several other colors. It’s a cute but rather common item. This set was made by Red Wing in the late 1930s and into the early 1940s. In excellent condition the sugar by itself would be worth about $10, perhaps $15 if the color is blue rather than turquoise. Thanks Larry

Question:
Hello, I have a special commemorative that I won at the 2000 convention. The Hamms beer pitcher with the song verse, I am considering puting it up for sale. I am wondering if there is outlet for such an item somewhere in Red Wing, or if my best bet would be Ebay? I am appreciative of any assistance you might be able to offer. Sincerely, Janice Palmer, Katy, Texas

Answer:
Janice, The RWCS convention auction would be my recommended sales venue for most RWCS special commemoratives. But your 2000 Hamm’s special commemorative pitcher may be of interest to both Red Wing and Hamms collectors, so you may have better success making it available to both groups. That would mean selling it on eBay. An ad in the RWCS Newsletter and the Hamm’s collectors group newsletter would be another alternative, especially if you are concerned about achieving your established price.

By the way, use of the Hamm’s verse on the special commemorative was authorized by the Miller Brewing company, owner of the Hamm’s brand at the time. So it can be considered an authenticate piece of Hamm’s memorabilia. Larry

Question:
I have an old cake plate marked ‘Red Wing USA’ on the bottom. It has a base about 3 1/2" tall that flares at the bottom and is fluted. The underside of the platter is fluted as is the outside 1 1/2" of the top. The color is yellow and kind of speckled. Can you give any information on this? Thank you, Jeff

Answer:
It’s listed as a cake salver or cake plate in various Art Pottery catalogs of the late 1950s. I believe it was introduced in 1955 and it is listed in catalogs through 1958. I do not find it in catalogs from 1959 or later. According to these catalogs the available colors were Colonial Buff, Luster Black, Matte White, Fleck Zephyr Pink, Fleck Nile Blue, Fleck Green, Fleck Yellow, Cinnamon, and Meadow Green. The cake plate was also decorated in the Tampico dinnerware pattern, although it is not listed on any Tampico brochure or price list to my knowledge.

The correspondent’s cake plate is Fleck Yellow. I’m not sure about the value of this piece; I’d guess around $25 to $30 but that is just a guess. Steve and Rosa may have a better idea. Thanks, Larry

Question: {mosimage}
Hi, I did receive a set of Red Wing China from my Grandparents and could not find the name of the pattern, could you help me on this? Thanks, Ann

Answer:
Ann, The name of your pattern is Blossom Time. Larry