Answer:
Ruth, The photo included with your question shows five items. The creamer shown in front to the left side is from Red Wing’s Bakeware pattern. This pattern is commonly called "Oomph" due to misinterpretation of a company brochure. The sugar bowl in the middle of the back row is from the same pattern but has the wrong cover — it should be brown rather than green. The other items in the photo (mug, S&P shakers, small casserole) are not Red Wing. You’ll notice the green color seems a bit more blue than on the Red Wing pieces. "Louisville" is the name I’ve seen used for these pieces, although I’m not sure if that is the name of the pattern or the pottery that made them.

Red Wing’s Bakeware and Village Green patterns, as well as "Louisville" and perhaps other patterns, feature a combination of dark brown and green colors. They are easily confused with each other, and it is very common to find these patterns mixed and combined in a single collection. Perhaps the original owners preferred certain designs from each of these patterns and combined them?

It’s true that Red Wing did not mark all of their items. Larger items tend to be marked more frequently than smaller ones but there is little consistency from pattern to pattern, or even within the same pattern. Thanks, Larry

Answer:
Ed, We have a pair of the same Trader Vic S&P shakers and I’m quite certain they were not made by Red Wing. The glaze, color and clay don’t fit with other Red Wing items, and they don’t have the right "feel". I’ve seen no documentation that Red Wing made these. Trader Vic contracted with several different companies to make items, and I believe that applies to these shakers.

Trader Vic items are definitely collectable. I really can’t give an accurate value for these but if pressed I’d estimate the value to be in the $25 to $50 range. thanks, Larry

Answer:
Mara, There is no reason to think your 547 pitcher is not an original Red Wing item. The 547 ball pitcher was a staple of the Red Wing line-up for many years. As a dinnerware item, the Red Wing 547 pitcher is a part of the Gypsy Trail "Plain" pattern. However, production continued long after most other Plain pieces had been discontinued. The 547 pitcher was also made for RumRill; those pitchers are marked RUMRILL 547 or RUMMRILL 547 and are usually colored with art pottery glazes.

The 547 ball pitcher does not appear in the earliest Gypsy Trail brochures but does appear beginning about 1938. RumRill 547 pitchers were no doubt made prior to this time. Production with the Red Wing name continued on until the mid to late 1940s.

Turquoise is one of the standard Gypsy Trail colors, and 547 pitchers in turquoise are fairly common. The value of such a pitcher in excellent condition would be $25 to $40. Thanks, Larry

Answer:
The Friar Tuck cookie jar was introduced in 1941, along with the Katrina and Pierre the Chef cookie jars. These jars were very popular and sold well for many years. The endpoint for production is uncertain. However, a July 1955 price list includes the Chef but not the Friar or Katrina. This list also introduces the King of Tarts and Carousel cookie jars. I believe the cookie jar line-up was changed at this point, with the Friar and Katrina discontinued in favor of new models.

These jars were made in several colors, and current prices reflect the scarcity of the color. Yellow with beige trim is the most common and thus would command lower prices than other colors. The condition of the jar is another important factor when pricing these jars. Chips and cracks are very common, as are greasy stains from the cookies stored in the jar. Despite the high production numbers, finding these jars today without a chip, crack or stain can be a challenge.

A yellow Friar Tuck would retail for around $100 to $125 in excellent condition. The damage described above reduces the value significantly. Friar Tuck and his companion cookie jars are routinely available on eBay, and the yellow jars usually sell for under $100. While I cannot suggest any specific shop, this jar shouldn’t be too difficult to find in antique shops. They are definitely available out there. Thanks, Larry