Category Archives: Dinnerware

Dinnerware

E S Sohn Butter Mold

Question:

I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this pot I inherited? I think it is Red Wing? It is in perfect condition with no chips or cracks. Thank you

Answer:

The item in the photos was made by Red Wing under contract for Ernest Sohn.
Ernest Sohn was a well-known designer who contracted with various businesses to make ceramic, metal and wood products for his sales company. He specialized in serving pieces and buffet sets, not full dinnerware patterns. His dealings with Red Wing were not well documented, but at least two lines of dinnerware items were produced for Sohn. “Butter Mold” is the better known of the two. It consisted of serving pieces such as pitchers, teapots, casseroles, bowls, platters, etc. The pieces had a ribbed effect in the glaze, similar to Village Green. Most Butter Mold pieces were dark brown, dark green, or yellow (uncommon). Each piece was marked with a design taken from a vintage butter mold. The design featured a fern and leaves enclosed by 5 rings, and included the letters ” E.S. USA”. Production years are uncertain but most likely fall between the late 1950s and early 1960s. An ad for Sohn’s Butter Mold line appeared in a February 1961 magazine.
Your item is from the Butter Mold line, but I’m not certain of its name or purpose since we have no documentation of this line.  Bean pot is likely correct.  The value today is $30-40 if it is in excellent, undamaged condition.
Larry R

Continental Buffet, blue bowl

Question:

Hi –

I have a couple pieces of Continental Buffet and am wondering what it is worth? It seems to have been going up lately!

I have a BLUE salad bowl (unfortunately no serving spoon/fork), and a BLUE double casserole bottom (no lids or stand). Both are in excellent condition. Thanks.

Amy

Answer:

Pricing scarce items like these blue Continental Buffet pieces is difficult since they rarely come up for sale, thus few comparisons.  Don’t feel bad about the missing salad fork and spoon.  Over time accessory pieces like these are usually separated from bowl because later owners don’t realize they go together.
Optimizing the value for these pieces depends on finding the right buyer.  Continental Buffet isn’t a complete dinnerware line as it includes only serving pieces.  This will limit the number of interested collectors.  That said, those interested will be eager to buy when such pieces become available to them.   The large salad bowl should be worth around $75, maybe more to the right buyer.  The base for the double casserole is more difficult because it isn’t complete.  The missing covers and stand make it worth nothing to most collectors.  Of course a collector who has the covers and stands but needs the base would jump at the opportunity, but there odds of finding that person are slim at best.  I would put the value of the base by itself at $15 to $20.
Larry

Bakeware (aka Oomph) line

Question:

I have many pieces of Red Wing Oomph or bakeware; however, none of the pieces have markings that are discernible.

I know they are Red Wing for the woman I got the pieces from (now deceased) collected them during the 40’s
Here are two pics of my collection.
Thank you.

Answer:

Red Wing produced the Bakeware (aka Oomph) line in the early to mid 1940s.  Several competing potteries made similar wares with the same color scheme.  Red Wing’s Village Green pattern, introduced in 1952, utilizes the same colors as Bakeware.  Brown and green pieces from different potteries are frequently mixed and matched because they are so similar in appearance.  Collectors often have difficulty sorting them out.
About half the items displayed in the two photos are Bakeware by Red Wing.  Most of the other items were made by competitors, though there are also a few Village Green items mixed in.  Some items I cannot identify due to the lack of a clear view.
The following items are NOT Bakeware.
First table starting from the left:
Coffee cups (front corner)
Egg or custard cups
Cannot identify the items to the left of the plates but they aren’t Bakeware
Large covered cruet or pitcher (near the center)
Shell-shaped small plates
Taller cylinder-shaped salt & pepper
Multi-piece relish tray
Handled round green plate (center back row)
Covered casserole (center back row)
Cylinder-shaped mugs (Bakeware mugs have a pronounced green rim)
Coffee cups in the right front corner are Village Green
Second table starting from the left:
Covered dish in the back is Village Green
Cruets
Ashtray
Creamer
Butter dish (might be Village Green??)
Skillet with handle
Small pots with handle
Cannot identify the stacked bowls – may or may not be Red Wing
Larry R

 

Buds Pattern Pitcher

Question: I would like to have Larry take a look at the attached pictures of what I think is the only known Buds pattern water pitcher and see if he can give an approximate value.  I’ve had it for a long time but would now like to sell it.  However, because of its rarity, I really don’t know what the value would be or the best way to advertise/sell it.  What I’d like to do is put it in the Red Wing auction, but since I live in Washington state, with no intentions of being in the Red Wing area during auction time, I guess I’ll have to advertise it some other way. I’m not a big fan of embay.  I can be reached at 206-300-3397.  Thanks in advance.

Answer:

Buds was a Red Wing dinnerware pattern designed in 1952 that never went into production.  Supposedly two sets of Buds were made to be displayed at a trade show.  The pattern was not well received, and this was reported back to managers in Red Wing.  The salesmen at the show were told to discard the Buds dinnerware and not bother bringing it back to Red Wing.  But apparently a few pieces survived as there are a handful of known Buds items today.
What is the value of an authentic Buds water pitcher?  It’s tough to place a value on an item that is likely one of a kind.  Without comparable sales any estimate is just a shot in the dark.  The photos appear to show an authentic Buds pitcher; I have no reason to believe otherwise.  I would estimate the value in today’s market to be $1000 or more.
The pitcher could sell for well above that figure if sold at an auction attended by knowledgeable Red Wing collectors.  Selling it at the annual RWCS convention auction would be ideal.  It’s too late for this year’s convention, but consider next year’s auction.  Perhaps the pitcher could be packed very well and shipped to Red Wing.  There are also other auctions periodically that feature Red Wing pottery and stoneware.  The goal is to find a knowledgeable audience because the general public won’t know anything about Buds and why it is valuable.  Antique dealers who specialize in Red Wing would be happy to buy this pitcher, but won’t pay top dollar as they need to make a profit.  Online auctions such as eBay can display the pitcher to a wide audience but there are some hassles and risks involved.  If I owned this pitcher and wanted to sell it, I would make a strong effort to get it into the RWCS convention auction.  Non-RWCS auctions that are held during convention week would be another possibility.
Larry R

Bob White Collection with trivet

Question:

Hello,

I have a collection of Red Wing Bob White dishes that I wish to sell.  What would be a fair asking price for this set?

 

1 set salt and pepper shaker-hour glass shape

1 set salt and pepper shaker-birds

1 hors d’oeuvres

1 gravy boat with lid

2 creamers (one has a small chip)

2 sugar bowls with lids

1 medium casserole with lid

1 large casserole no lid

2 rim soup bowls

12 cereal/salad bowls

3 sauce bowls

1 large salad bowl

4 bread and butter plates

18 salad plates (not sure if that is what they are called)

14 dinner plates

1 teapot with lid (chip on inside rim)

4 12-inch water pitchers

15 coffee cups

16 coffee saucers

1 trivet

1 divided vegetable bowl

4 small dishes or saucers that I cannot identify

1 cookie jar (small chip on inside rim)

Answer: Please let me know if you have further questions. I would like to invite you to become a member of the RWCS – it’s just $35 per year. I would be happy to mail you a membership form or you can visit the membership advantage page on our website.

Test Plate: Anniversary line shape but Nassau pattern (Concord line pattern)

Question:

Hello,
I have a Redwing plate that I have owned for several years. I have recently been interested in knowing more about it and have not been able to find the pattern on the sites I have looked at. The plate is 11″ in diameter and has a texture surface with the pattern. The back is marked Redwing and has the numbers 445 475 and what looks like a 480-2. The numbers are under the glaze. The in bright pink in top of the glaze it says keep me. There are no chips or cracks to the plate.
Thank you for your help in advance. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Cristan

Answer:

This is a very interesting plate.  It is not a standard Red Wing dinnerware piece. It’s a test or sample piece.

The plate with its textured surface is from the Anniversary dinnerware line, which was introduced in 1953.  The artwork is from the Nassau pattern.  Nassau was also introduced in 1953 but was produced on the Concord shape, not Anniversary.  Nassau did not sell well and was made for only one year.  Your plate gives reason to believe Red Wing considered using the Anniversary shape for Nassau rather than the Concord shape. The numbers on the bottom are codes for the colors used for the test plate.  “KEEP ME” was added by somebody who owned the plate at one time.  That person recognized that this is an unusual plate.  Red Wing did not mark items over the glaze in that manner.

Test and sample plates have high collector appeal and thus have high values.  Test pieces that have a recognizable Red Wing pattern generally fetch higher prices than those that are decorated with unknown designs.  This is a one-of-a-kind plate and thus it is difficult to assign a value.  Assuming it is in undamaged condition, I estimate it would sell for $500 to $800 at an auction attended by knowledgeable Red Wing collectors.

Larry

Yellow Butter warmer, after market

Question:

Hello,

I am hoping that you will pass this on to the dinnerware experts.  I have this butter warmer in yellow.  I don’t see it anywhere in my Red Wing book.  On the internet, I see a “smart set” and in the Bob White pattern.  Nothing in the simple yellow.  I am wondering if it is from the same time frame as the yellow chicken teapot as well.  Any information is appreciated.

Thanks for your time and effort,

Regards,

Becky

Answer:

The yellow butter warmer was made by an amateur pottery using an old Red Wing mold.  It was not made by Red Wing Potteries.  The mold is in the Casual shape, which is the dinnerware line that included the Bob White and Smart Set patterns.  But this piece was made later, probably in the 1970s or 1980s.

 

The company assets were sold to the public when Red Wing Potteries closed in 1967.  The molds used to form a wide variety of dinnerware and art pottery pieces were included in those assets, and many of those molds were purchased by art schools and amateur potters.  No effort was made to remove the Red Wing name from those molds because the company was no longer in business, thus there was no perceived need to protect the company name.

 

There are many “Red Wing” pieces out there that were made by amateur potters.  Many of them have a date and the potter’s name or initials scratched into the bottom.  As best I can tell this butter warmer does not have those features.  But the color is a shade of yellow not found on authentic Red Wing pieces.  And the numerous flakes in the glaze all over the piece are a strong indication that this was the work of an amateur potter.

 

Larry

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Brittany serving items

Question:

I am sending you photos of the 4 pieces of Red Wing for you to forward to the dinnerware experts for identification and value estimation.  I only know these are the Brittany pattern.

The large serving platter measures 12 inches.  The “shallow” serving dish measures approx 11-3/4 to 12 inches.  The smaller serving dish measure approx 9 inches.  The creamer is 4 inches tall.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.  Happy New Year!

Barb

Answer:

Here are the official names and approximate values of the Brittany items in the photos.  All values assume excellent condition with no damage.  Any damage (chips, flakes, cracks, hairlines, stains, etc.) will reduce the value significantly, usually by 25 to 75% depending on the extent and visibility.

12” Chop Plate  $25

Creamer  $15

Buffet Bowl  $25

Nappy (vegetable bowl) $20

Larry R

Blossom Time jardiniere

Question:

The item in the photo is a jardiniere and is intended to hold planted flowers.

In the early 1950’s Red Wing made vases and jardinieres in several shapes and sizes that were decorated with artwork borrowed from three popular dinnerware patterns.  The patterns were Magnolia, Lotus and Blossom Time.  The item in the photo is a Blossom Time jardiniere.  Red Wing price lists show these vases and jardinieres were categorized as art ware, not dinnerware, and they do not appear in dinnerware brochures.

These vases and jardinieres were not big sellers and were made for a short period.  Today they aren’t rare but they are scarce.  The value for this Blossom Time jardiniere is $50-75 if it is in excellent, undamaged condition.  Any damage reduces the value significantly.

Larry R

Answer:

Hi,

I came picked this piece up at  a flea market recently.

I am uncertain of what it is for. Planter? Can you tell me?

It measures at widest point approx. 9 in. and 6 ½ in tall

Thank you

Barb

Pink Morning Glory Dishes

Question:

I would like to Ask the Expert the value of the Pink Morning Glory dishes
that I have.    My list includes:

Water pitcher
10 plates 10 1/2 in
Beverage Server
11plates7 1/2 in
Graves Boat with tray
1 plate 6 1/2 in
Tea pot with Lid
13 saucers
Chop Plate
8cups
Casserole with lid
creamer
Divided Relish dish
sugar with lid
2 Nappies
salt and pepper
1 Cereal bowl
10 sauce dishes
2 tier Serving Plate
extra lid for tea pot

all in good condition

thank you

Answer:

Estimated values for the Morning Glory Pink items listed. All values assume excellent, undamaged condition.

Water pitcher $25-30

Beverage server with cover $25-30

Teapot with cover $30-35

Dinner plate 10.5″ $10-15

Salad plate 7.5″ $5-10

Bread & butter plate 6.5″ $5-10

Gravy boat $15-20

Chop plate $20-25

Cup $5-10

Saucer $5-10

Casserole with cover $25-30

Creamer $10-15

Sugar with cover $10-15

Relish dish $20-25

Salt & Pepper $15-20

Nappy $20-25

2 tiered serving tray $20-30

Cereal bowl $5-10

Sauce dish $5-10

Extra teapot cover $10-15 ??