Question: 
I have two green Red Wing vases that belonged to my grandmother. (Photo attached.) They are about 10 1/2 inches tall. Both have “Red Wing 785″ inscribed on the bottom. I would appreciate any information you can provide–when they were made, approximate value, etc.
Answer:
785, is a Belle Kogan shape 10” tall 65.00 Steve and Rose
Red Wing, MN – For the second time in the RWCS 2014 Commemorative will have an accessory piece.
This premium piece will once again only be purchased by members who pick up their commemorative at the Convention. It can be pre-ordered for $12 and a limited quantity will be available to purchase onsite for $15. We can’t tell you what this accessory piece is because it would give away the identity of the Commemorative itself. Last year the 2013 Commemorative was a stoneware dog and the accessory piece was a dog dish.
The 2014 Commemorative accessory is sort of along those same lines, except it will be fired in the kilns by Red Wing Stoneware. We expect this will be a popular piece and won’t be surprised if the limited quantity onsite sells out, so members are encouraged to order in advance.
Members can order their accessory piece when the register for convention.
Have questions need more information? Contact the RWCS Business Office at 800-977-7927.
Question:
I am wondering what the retail value is for a town and country mustard pot without the spoon. Mint condition, original green chartreuse glaze, and no crazing. I believe this shape was not meant to be available in this color, maybe that makes it more valuable?
Answer:
A Town & Country mustard pot without its spoon would be worth perhaps $25. The spoon is more difficult to find than the pot and thus more valuable. Of course a complete set with all pieces (including the small plug for the end of the spoon) has the most value.
The mustard pot was produced in two shades of chartreuse. Initially it was available in the pale Town & Country chartreuse. In 1951 Informal Supper Service was introduced. This was a line that included the Festive and Patio supper trays as well as several shapes “borrowed” from Town & Country. The mustard pot and spoon were among those T&C items. Informal Supper Service pieces were glazed in one of the four colors used with the Quartette pattern (Concord line), which was also introduced in 1951. The four colors were Mulberry, Ming Green, Copper Glow and Chartreuse.
Thus your mustard pot could be either Town & Country chartreuse or Concord chartreuse, which is considerably darker than the pale T&C chartreuse. Concord chartreuse may add a few dollars to the value of your mustard pot, but again the spoon alone has considerably more value than the pot alone.
Question: 
We have several pieces of the Regal Restaurant or Hotel China. We bought most of them off a cart outside the Pottery Store in the early nineties. We have several saucers that have a light turquoise tint to them. We bought these from the company store as well. In “Red Wing Art Pottery Two” by Ray Reiss it states on page 187 that these were test saucers. Is there any value or rarity to these saucers?
Answer:
The Regal pattern is hard to find and to most collectors it is unknown. A Hotel or Restaurant brochure that included Regal surfaced several years ago. This is the only documentation of Regal we have seen. We believe this pattern was introduced not long before the Potteries closed and thus was in production for only a short period.
The Regal brochure states it was available in either white or beige fleck. There is no mention of a light turquoise shade. The two lightly colored saucers could be due to variation in the glaze batch, or could be test plates. Are there markings on the bottom of the saucers? That would help to determine whether these are standard issue saucers or test pieces. Sorry, but in my opinion none of the test saucers shown on page 187 of RR #2 appear to be the same color as yours.
All Regal dinnerware is considered scarce. But it is not in high demand so value is only average. A white Regal cup and saucer would be worth around $15 in excellent condition. The shaded variant may be worth more depending on whether or not there are test markings on the bottom. Such markings would double or triple the value.
Larry
Question: 
Hi,
I just found your website and I am very happy about it! Can you tell me the approximate value of this lovely churn. It does not have any cracks.
Thank you so much,
Molly
Answer:
Molly, your Red Wing 3 gallon butter churn was produced between 1936 & 1947. The lid on your churn is not Red Wing and therefore has no value. With the small wing and in perfect condition, the value on your 3 gallon churn is right around $200. Al Kohlman
Question:
an you help with this piece it was in my dad’s home and i don’t know anything about it it has a red wing stoneware marking and a spigot on the bottom of it it had some kind of salt left in it what is it and what was it used for and does it have any value? thank you Lynn
Answer:
Lynn, you do indeed have a 
. However, someone must have painted it. You can strip off the paint with paint stripper and you will not hurt the crock. The crock was used for canning or dispensing a liquid. I can’t tell the size without seeing the gallon-age number on the top of the crock. Also, from your photo, I can see a crack in the back. I am going to guess it is a 20 gallon crock. With the crack (depending on how large it is, the value can go anywhere from $40 to $80 if all cleaned up. Al Kohlman
Question:
I have long had an interest in Red Wing crockery and have been getting my hubby hooked on my hobby as well…
Many years ago I found this bean pot with an advertisement from my hometown. I am just curious if this you could tell me a possible value and whether this one is fairly rare, as I have only seen one other in my lifetime. Near perfect condition. No lid.
Recently my mom found the stoneware bowl and my hubby and I have searched the internet for more information on it to no avail. Any history and value on this item would be appreciated. It is 12″ across the top and 6″ across the bottom. The handle is wire with wood handle. No cracks, lines or chips.
Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge for us all!
Dave and Lori
Answer:
Lori Ann, The Minnesota bottom signed bailed handle bowl is a beauty. Value on it is between $70 & $80. The ND adv Red Wing bean pot without the lid $75 to $85. Al Kohlman
Question:
Hello , I am looking at buying a bob white red wing toothpick holder on line, there seems to be plenty available, but I noticed some sellers say it’s 9 inches tall and. Others say it is 8&a quarter inches tall, the shorter ones have a hard to read red wing on the bottom while the 9 inch is clear and easy to read. Could the shorter be a knock off? Can you tell me the correct height of the bob white tooth pick holder? Thank you !
Answer:
To my knowledge the Bob White hors d’oeuvre bird (toothpick holder) is not being reproduced. As the writer notes, there are plenty of original Red Wing holders available, thus there would be no great profit in reproducing new copies to sell.
The differences in the stated heights of various hors d’oeuvre birds could be due to several factors. Irregularly shaped items like this are difficult to measure. It’s not as easy as measuring the diameter of a plate or some other symmetrical object. One person may take a measurement at a slightly different point than another or use a different method to obtain a measurement.
The mold used to form the bird is another factor. All Bob White birds were not formed by the same mold; many different molds were used over the years of production. There could be slight differences in size from mold to mold. It’s also possible Red Wing intentionally altered the size slightly at some point. I don’t know that to be true for this piece but during the Gypsy Trail years it was quite common. The mold also accounts for the sharpness of the RED WING USA markings on the bottom. The first bird made from a new mold will have sharp, clear markings. The markings on the 100th bird made from that same mold will not be so sharp and clear because the mold gets worn down a bit with each use. And it’s not only the markings that become less sharp. Other features of the item shaped by the mold become less distinct with each use. Pieces formed by an old worn mold will have less value to today’s collectors than one with sharp, clear markings and features.
Variations in kiln firings are another potential source for slight variations in size. A firing that went a little too long or was done at a higher temperature may result in a slightly smaller bird.
If the birds in question have the correct Bob White colors, they are almost certainly genuine Red Wing products. It is very difficult for those in the reproduction business to exactly match the glaze colors used decades ago.
There is one caveat to consider. When Red Wing Potteries went out of business in 1967, the company’s mold were sold to the public with no attempt to obliterate the RED WING markings in the molds. Many of these molds went to art schools and hobby shop potters. Non-Red Wing items formed by genuine Red Wing molds frequently turn up for sale but usually they are quite easy to tell from the authentic Red Wing
product because the potter made no attempt to mimic the original. Colors and decoration are not the same. Weight is another consideration; amateur pieces are usually heavier or lighter than the original due to the clay used to make the piece. Amateur potters and art school students usually mark the piece with their name or initials and the year of production scratched into the wet clay.
Larry
Red Wing, MN? An 8 gallon Red Wing blue-banded pantry jar was the top item in this year’s Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS) Convention Auction on July 11. Thanks to its good condition and the fact that the 8 gallon size is quite hard to find, it drew an impressive $4,200 gavel price.
The RWCS celebrated its 36th Anniversary at this year’s Convention, which brought nearly 1,500 visitors to the city of Red Wing from July 10-13 to buy, sell and learn more about the lines of Red Wing stoneware, art pottery and dinnerware. This year’s event was sponsored by Red Wing Stoneware, Red Wing Pottery, Larry’s Jugs Antiques and Treasure Island Casino.
Other items of interest in this year’s auction, which was operated by Houghton’s Auction Service, included a 2 gallon Elephant Ear Ice Water cooler (hairline), $2,100; 2 gallon “Geno Mfg. Co.” advertising water cooler (mint), $2,100; Red Wing Gray Line cake stand (cracked), $1,300; and a 20 gallon butterfly crock back-stamped “Red Wing
Stoneware Company” (mint), $1,050.
For notable art pottery items, a hard-to-find Red Wing Cleveland Brushed Ware vase sold for $1,200 and a pair of M3014 Decorator Line vases sold for $200 and $325, respectively. A 6.75-inch tall Nokomis glaze elephant sold for $450.
Top dinnerware lots included a large grouping of Town & Country dinnerware for $350 and a 31-piece lot of Ernest Sohn Butter Mold dinnerware for $325. The auction, which consisted of about 190 items, brought more than $58,000 in total sales.
Events throughout the week included the annual business meeting, a “Crock Hunt” scavenger hunt around the historic Mississippi River town, and the always anticipated Saturday Show & Sale. There was also a special display room at Red Wing High School, where members created their own unique displays for the education and enjoyment of attendees, combined with some fun and creative competition. Members bought and sold items throughout the week in the parking lot at Pottery Place Mall. About 200 volunteers helped make this year’s Convention a success. RWCS Members Dennis Nygaard, Steve Showers, Paul Boudin and Connie Mathison officially kicked off the Convention on July 11 with a keynote presentation on digging in the Red Wing Pottery Dump. The Goodhue County Historical Society Museum also got into the act by opening its vault of archives to RWCS members during the week.
To increase funds and support for its new museum space, the RWCS Foundation held “Wine-ing for Red Wing” – an event that featured food and beverages, silent and live auctions and live music by musician Karl Burke. The RWCS Foundation is in the process of renovating the north half of the Pottery Place Annex building to house the new Red Wing Pottery Museum, which is scheduled to open during next year’s RWCS Convention on July 9, 2014. The RWCS Foundation took in more than $30,000 in donations over the course of the week.
The year’s commemorative, which could be purchased only by RWCS members, was a Red Wing stoneware Bulldog figure. Two limited-edition commemoratives were also produced. These were mixed in with the regular commemoratives and all commemoratives were packaged in sealed boxes, so a small number of members were fortunate enough to get one. Of all the Commemorative Bulldogs that were made, 90 percent were brown, 9 percent were white and black and 37 were two-toned tan. RWCS Commemorative Manager Bob Morawski also had several special items made that were auctioned off to benefit the Society.
Attendees had a good selection of topics to learn about during the educational sessions held on July 12, including an orientation for first timers, Red Wing zinc glaze, Red Wing 101, recent finds from the old pottery dump, Red Wing dinnerware, history of the villages surrounding the Goodhue County clay pits, Red Wing bowls and creating the 2013 RWCS Commemorative. Local potter Richard Spiller and Finnish potter Aba Luostarinen held hands-on pottery classes for adults, and the RWCS Foundation held an info session on all the news surrounding the future Red Wing Pottery Museum. In addition, the 2nd annual Crock Fest celebration featuring food vendors and music by The Crusiers was held at Red Wing’s Central Park later that day. It was sponsored by Maple City Pottery.
Another unique aspect of the RWCS Convention was the participation of the younger generation through the KidsView program. The Society is on the leading edge of creating engaging and educational ways to get the younger generations involved in collecting. The focus on these RWCS members is an important part of the vision of the Society to ensure its continued existence and growth. Many interactive and challenging activities and seminars were offered for children of all ages, such as learning how to bid at an auction, what to look for in an antique, and several hands-on pottery creation projects. KidsView Co-Chairs Sue Tagliapetra and Aarika Floyd announced at the annual business meeting at the end of the week that they were stepping down from their roles after many combined years of service. They were given a standing ovation from those in attendance.
Young Red Wing collectors ages 13 to 20 participated in the Young Collectors Club at Convention. Activities included a hands-on pottery wheel opportunity led by RWCS Member Frank Sheldon, and a hike up Red Wing’s famed Barn Bluff. The Young Collectors Club recently announced that participants can be eligible for a college
scholarship by participating in club activities and earning participation points. Contact program chairperson Wendy Callicoat at crocks701@aol.com for more information.
The next official RWCS event will be the annual MidWinter GetTogether, which will be held in Des Moines Feb. 6-8, 2014.
The Red Wing Collectors Society was founded in 1977 in Red Wing, Minn. and is devoted to educating people about all American pottery. There are about 4,000 members worldwide. The Red Wing Potteries had diverse pottery lines that included stoneware, dinnerware and art pottery. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 800-977-7927, e-mail director@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.RedWingCollectors.org. Find the RWCS on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
