Question:

Answer:

Anthony, the 4 gallon crock with the lazy 8 decoration that was side stamped has a greater value because of the stamp.  Salt glazed pieces were stacked in the large Kilns while the clay was too wet to be stamped.   Once the clay dried to the point when it could be stamped with out damaging the clay. only those pieces that could be reached were stamped.  Less than 20 to 30 percent of the pieces were stamped.  Finding a stamped piece of Red Wing Salt glaze is much more difficult than an unsigned piece and therefore demands a higher value.  Your 4 gallon rib- cage would have a value around $250 where a size stamped 4 gallon rib cage could fetch you $800 if in perfect condition, with good marking.  Al Kohlman

Question:

We are sending another request to help us learn more about our crocks, as we become more anxious to learn about Red Wing crockery in general, its history and values.  Our group photo is as follows (R to L):

1- 3 gallon salt glaze with leaf. Chip in front as shown. The “encyclopedia” 2010 shows this to be rare? Is this still true?
2-  2 gallon salt glaze with target. Small hairline crack on outside but not thru to inside.
3- 3 gallon double P with rib cage.  Small hairline crack on outside but not thru to inside.
4- Plain. Bottom marked Minnesota Stoneware Co. Perfect condition.
5- Plain 1 gallon. No markings. Perfect condition.
6- 5 gallon. Perfect condition. Lid is cracked and has a chip inside.
7- 5 gallon water cooler.  Perfect condition. Spigot is new. No lid.
8- Stoneware brown bowl. No markings.
9- Stoneware brown jar.  Perfect. No markings.

Thank you!

Dave and Lori

Answer:

Lori, I will place the values at the end of each of your questions.

1- 3 gallon salt glaze with leaf. Chip in front as shown. The “encyclopedia”
2010 shows this to be rare? Is this still true?  3 gal leaf crock is a tough find.   If mint today, $450 to $500 with chip, $300 to $350
2-  2 gallon salt glaze with target. Small hairline crack on outside but not
thru to inside.  Still the hairline hurts the value.  $70 to $90
3- 3 gallon double P with rib cage.  Small hairline crack on outside but not
thru to inside.  Again hairline,  $100 to $125
4- Plain. Bottom marked Minnesota Stoneware Co. Perfect condition.  $40
5- Plain 1 gallon. No markings. Perfect condition. $10 to $15
6- 5 gallon. Perfect condition. Lid is cracked and has a chip inside.  Lid is not Red Wing and with chip and crack $0.  5 gallon wing crock, $70 to $90
7- 5 gallon water cooler.  Perfect condition. Spigot is new. No lid.  $300
8- Stoneware brown bowl. No markings.  RW milk pan   $30
9- Stoneware brown jar.  Perfect. No markings.  $10 to $15

Hope this is helpful.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hello,

My 97 year old grandmother would like to know the worth of her 8 gallon Red Wing Pickle Crock.  Her guess is around $100.  I am attaching several pictures which I hope will assist you.

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

Suzette

Answer:

Suzette, your Grandmother’s 8 gallon Red Wing crock has the large 6″ red wing, which tells me it was produced right around 1915.  The large wing and number 8 were applied well with good color.  The value if in perfect condition would be $125 to $150.  Grandmother was not to far off.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Good Day!  My name is Val and I am writing to you regarding two crocks I have inherited from my Grandparents.  The first one is a 5 gal salt glazed crock with a slight chip near the inside lip of the crock and a small chip on the underside of one of the ears on the crock as you will see in the pics provided.  There is slight staining running down from the ears of the crock also.  I also have a nice 3 gal small wing crock in what I consider nice condition. No chips or cracks.  Wondering if you would share a value on these crocks?

Thank you!

With Regards,

Val

Answer:

Val, your 5 gallon Up-turned leaf salt glazed crock was produced by the North Star Stoneware Company in Red Wing, Minnesota.  With the shallow chip on the inside rim and under one handle, the value is between $300 & $375.  Your 3 gallon Red Wing crock with small wing,  $60 to $75.  Al Kohlman

Question:

After a couple failed tries I think I finally found a piece of North Star Red Wing. It’s a very close match to the two gallon big snow North Star crock without the big snow of course. It has 3 small crows feet that don’t show through and one with half way down hairline, and some small chips. Despite the condition I was happy to find it for $40. But I would still like your opinion Please. Many thanks! Lynn

Answer:

Lynn, it sure does match the photo you have.  It is considered Red Wing and most likely a North Star crock.  With the crows feet and hairline, the value is between $60 & $80.   Al Kohlman

Question:

Are the attached stoneware salt glazed brown Albany clay? Any info is much appreciated Apolonio

Answer:

Apolonio, the pieces you have here did have an Albany slip applied to the clay when they were produced. The Albany slip came from Albany,  New York and was used to cover the clay to prevent the contents of the pieces from leaking.  Albany slip melded into the pores of the clay at a lower temperature than it took to fire the clay.  This provided a smooth seal to the crock or jug it was applied to.  The only piece that is Red Wing in the molded Albany slip jug that is bottom signed.    The value on that piece is between $50 & $75 if in perfect condition.

Question:

Hi I have this bowl with advertising in it. It was found in Onalaska, WI. What can you tell me about the value and advertising history.

June

Answer:

June, that is a gorgeous Red Wing Greek Key bowl.  I have not seen that advertising before and have no idea of which town it belongs to.  Hopefully a Red Wing collector well read this an respond back with its roots. The value on that advertising Greek Key bowl today would be $100 to $125 Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi….sorry no picture but…I have a 20 gallon crock with 4 birch leaves with oval trademark ref.

RED WING..UNION STONEWARE …RED WING MINN. NO APPARENT CRACKS OR CHIPS…There appears to be a small ‘bubble’ on the inside of crock??? Not sure what it is…but my question is in ref to lack of handles….The crock is totally smooth all the way around..no handles and no indentations/grips to pick it up..I am surprised there is no damage…what was this used for and is this odd that there is nothing to allow easier pick up????    I don’t plan on selling it but would like to know the value…thanks so much for your time.   Leanne

Answer:

Leanne, your 20 gallon birchleaf crock with no handles was produced by the Red Wing Stoneware Company before they came up with the red wing in 1909.  This tells me that your 20 gallon crock was produced between 1985 & 1909..  If there is an oval on your crock, it would be Red Wing’s first oval which is called the ski oval.  Red Wing used birch leaves before the red wing was produced and therefore there is no handles.  The Minnesota Stoneware Company also used birch leaves, but there pieces had molded handles.  The value of your 20 gallon in perfect condition is right around $250.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Here are photos of my crock hope I can find how much its is worth and maybe a good home in my basement and so large and heavy that I would rather it go to someone who appreciates such a large piece of ceramics. There is no lid however.
David

Answer:

David, your Red Wing 50 gallon crock has an Albany slip interior.  This is the first one I have seen with this interior which tells me it is a very early piece.  The one concern I have is that there is a wire just under the rim.  That usually means that there is a crack or hairline in the crock and the wire was added to stop that hairline crack from spreading..  So here is the deal.  If your 50 gallon is in perfect condition, the value with the Albany slip interior would  be between $2000 & $2500 today.  If there is a hairline crack, even a tight one, that value would go down to half.  Hope this was helpful.  Al Kohlman

Question: Al,
I picked this water cooler up a while back at auction.  It’s a neat cooler.  I’ve only seen ones with a bung hole in the book.  I was curious what you thought on value and was wondering what time frame were they produced?  Also, what is the correct spigot for these with the hex bung hole?   The cooler is mint, no chips, cracks, stains, etc…

Thank you. Dru

Answer:

Dru, what you really have is an Ice Water that was stenciled Water Cooler.  This is a very early cooler produced between 1915 & 1917.  These use to sell for around $3000.  Today, I would think maybe $2000 in in perfect shape.  Nice piece.  Al Kohlman