Question:

Would like to know how much items are worth. Wanting to know more about the Village Green Dinnerware, would like to know more information on these items before deciding on selling them or keeping.

Thank you.

Chantalle

Answer:

Sorry but I can’t provide a good estimate of the value of this group of dishes.  These small photos of a large group of dinnerware doesn’t provide enough detail for me to identify all of the items.  I can’t be sure of the quantity of some of the items.  And there is no description of the condition of these items which is vital when it comes to determining values. 

There are pieces from two different Red Wing dinnerware patterns in this photo.  The collection also includes items that were not made by Red Wing. The only one item here that is definitely from the Village Green pattern is the divided vegetable dish in middle of the photo.  The two pitchers on the right side, the frying pan, the square tray and the elongated dish in the middle were not made by Red Wing.  Most of the other pieces are from Red Wing’s Bakeware line (commonly known as Oomph).  I cannot identify the nest of bowls in the upper left corner without seeing the sides.  The other nest of dishes appear to be three casseroles without covers.  The pitcher next to the large roaster is a Bakeware beverage server and it should have a cover. 

A very rough guess of the value of this lot would be $200-300, but without knowing more it’s really nothing more than a guess.  Assuming they are in excellent condition the covered roaster, teapot, covered casserole and large salad bowl have the most value. 

Larry

Question:

Hi Larry,

First, I just wanted to thank you for this site, I have learned quite allot. Second, Thank you for the wonderful and informative responses you give. Finally, thank you for not making any of your inquirers feel ignorant.

Now for my question. I have read your site for information on the 257 yellow teapot I have. There are not any chips or cracks or damage to the teapot. After reading your site and a couple of others, there  seems to be allot of off-white or cream color of these teapots. I have also found blue and green on other sites but not yellow. Is yellow rarer than the other colors and what is the worth?

My husband and I are starting to sell most of our collections (coins, Red-Wing, Roseville, Royal Dux, sports memorbilia, etc) to help fund our retirement so any help in the ansering of my question is greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time concerning this matter.

Warmest regards, Brenda

Answer:

Thank you for the very kind words.  It’s good to hear from people who appreciate effort that goes into my responses.  Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.

As for your yellow 257 teapot, I would not consider yellow to be rare by any means.  From my collecting experience it is one of the more common colors.  Of course the items we come across in our searches will vary somewhat from person to person, but I would not give the yellow color any greater value than the other colors. These days a 257 teapot in excellent condition is worth around $75, with maybe another $25 or so for a teapot in very clean mint condition.

Thanks,

Larry

Question:

 I recently inherited some of the Magnolia pattern dinnerware. I have searched and searched to find an answer to a question I have concerning the trademark. The dishes have two different trademarks. One is the more popular red Red Wing while the other is an oval shaped design with the RW in the middle and the number 7 underneath. Can you give me any info/history on the trademarks and why they are different? I would appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Becky

Answer: Red Wing Potteries changed the ink stamp used to mark dinnerware several times over the years. The ink stamp markings applied to the bottom of Red Wing dinnerware depend on when the piece was produced, not the dinnerware pattern.  Magnolia dinnerware was made for about 10 years and three different ink stamps were used during that time.  The earliest ink stamp was introduced in 1941 with Red Wing’s first hand painted patterns.  I call this mark the “upright wing” and it used the same dark ink as the oval mark in your photos.  This upright wing mark is seldom found on Magnolia dinnerware because the oval-shaped mark and the Magnolia pattern was introduced at about the same time in the late 1940s.  The oval mark was used until 1950, when the familiar pinkish-red wing took over.  This mark was used until 1958. 

Knowing when the various ink stamp marks were applied can help date your dinnerware.   You pieces with the dark oval mark were made in the late 1940s; the ones with the pinkish wing were made in 1950 or later.  The mark has little or no effect on the value of a piece.  That said, Red Wing sometimes made other production changes that could affect value.  For instance, Magnolia dinner plates made in the late 1940s (with the dark oval stamp) are usually much thicker and heavier than dinner plates made later in the 1950s.  In this case a collector may have a preference for one type of plate over the other, but the value to the collector has nothing to do with the ink stamp mark.

Larry

Question:

Dear Experts

I have a set of black & white hand-painted red wing dishes. I can’t find the pattern or designer on-line, but my guess is Eva Zeisel.

The set is in excellent condition, no chips at all. I have 10 dinner plates, 8 luncheon plates, 10 bread & butter plates, 8 cups & saucers, 8 small bowls, 5 larger bowls, 2 serving bowls, a large salad bowl with 5 smaller salad bowls, cream & sugar (with lid), & 3 serving platters (1 divided, 1 meat platter, 1 display plate that stands on a slant).

Can you tell me when the pattern was designed & by whom, and approximate value of the pieces? Thank you for your attention. Photos attached. Happy New Year, even though it’s so soon after Zeisel’s death. Kay

Answer:

The name of this pattern is Midnight Rose.  It was one of six patterns made in the Anniversary shape.  Midnight Rose was introduced in 1953 or 1954 and was made until 1955, so it was produced for only a couple of years.  This pattern was designed by Charles Murphy, the lead designer at Red Wing Potteries.  The well-known and popular Town & Country dinnerware pattern was the only one that Eva Zeisel designed for Red Wing.  

The values below assume excellent condition.  Any damage reduces the value by 25 to 75% depending on the extent and location of the damage.

Dinner plate 10.5” :  $20-30
Salad plate 7.5” :   $10-15
Bread & butter plate 6.5” :  $10-15
Cup & Saucer:  $15-25
Sauce bowl:  $15-25
Cereal bowl:  $15-25
Nappy serving bowl:  $25-35
Large salad bowl: $50-75
Individual salad bowl:  $30-40
Sugar with cover:  $20-30
Creamer:  $20-30
Divided vegetable dish:  $25-35
Platter 13”:  $25-30
Platter 15”:  $30-40

The slanted “display plate” is either a bread tray or a spoon rest.  The bread tray is approximately 10″ x 7″.  I don’t have the dimensions for the spoon rest but it is significantly smaller.  Value for either is $40-60

Larry

Question:

Hi,

Can someone identify the pattern for this Deviled Egg platter pictured in the attached?

 Thank you,

Tom

Answer: Tom, The name of this pattern is Spring Song. It is one of many patterns made in the Concord shape and was one of the last patterns in that line to be introduced. It was available for only a couple of years, 1954 to 1955. Spring Song is not easy to find today and collectors are attracted to the pattern’s birds and bright colors.

A Spring Song egg plate complete with cover in mint condition is worth $125-150.  Any chips, cracks, stains, etc would reduce the value significantly. 

Thanks,

Larry

Question:  Hello

 I live in Lancaster PA, my parent’s and sister live in Red Wing and Lake City on visits I love looking for Red Wing Stoneware. I was at an estate sale today and saw a lot that I believe is Village Green Dinnerware. The lot included five cups and this handled and spouted piece which I have not been able to find pictures of. No-one at the auction or the auctioneer knew what it was and I bought the whole lot for $1.00. I was wondering what the piece is and what it might be worth. Thank you for your time.

James

Answer:

The item in the photo is a Fondue Casserole.  It was included in Gift and Novelty brochures from the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Although the colors are Village Green this item was never included in Village Green brochures or price lists.  Value is in the range of $30-40 if it is in mint condition. 

Larry

Question:

I acquired a partial set of red wing dinnerware, was told they may be the Contemporary style but could not find anything exactly like this. I have a cream, sugar, 3 tea cups, 2 small plates, 1 large salad bowl and 1 smaller bowl. I was just wondering what this style was called, year it was made, and if they have any value. One plate has a crack through it, otherwise a very nice looking set. Thank you! Brad

Answer:

Two Step is a hand painted pattern made in the Village Green shape. The colors are similar to Red Wing’s extremely popular Bob White pattern. Two Step and its sister pattern Picardy were introduced in 1960. Neither pattern sold particularly well. The 1961 dealer’s price lists includes both patterns with a full complement of available items. But the 1962 price list shows only a limited set of available pieces, as Red Wing focused attention on the new DuoTone (Cylinder) line introduced that year. Thus Two Step and Picardy were in full production for only a couple of years.

Two Step isn’t rare by any means but it is isn’t common either. It also isn’t especially popular with collectors, so values are no better than average when compared to other Red Wing patterns.

The following values are for Two Step items in excellent, undamaged condition; any damage reduces the value significantly.

Creamer:  $10-15

Sugar with cover:  $10-15

Tea Cup (without saucer): $5-10

Small plate (6” or 8”):  $5-10

Small bowl (3 or 4 bowls fit this description):  $10-25 depending on the bowl type

Large salad bowl (12”):  $40-60

Larry

Question:
I have a King of Tarts bank. It appears to have been made at the factory out of a King of Tarts cookie jar, except the coin slot and the hole in the bottom are both done prior to glazing. It is clearly stamped RED WING on the bottom. If you look in the hole you can see where the lid was attached. Can you give me any ideas about this item and its value? It has no chips or cracks.
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Question:
I am currently researching Eva Zeisel for a graduate school project. I am interested specifically in the salt and pepper shakers from the Town and Country line. I am wondering if you have the original price listings for the set? I am also trying to find records of prices on the secondary market so that I can analyze the results, but have had little luck. The few records I have found have been from major auction houses, which is not very helpful. Do you happen to know any of the smaller auctioneers, or dealers who frequently have Shmoos?
Thank you, Claire S.

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