Dutch Girl Cookie Jar

Question:
I have a blue glazed Dutch girl cookie jar with one barely visable chip on the outside of lid in lower area of lid and one chip off in base inner opening of jar (not visable with lid on). Thanks Deborah

Answer:
What is the question? For value, I’d estimate this cookie jar with two small chips to be in the $40 to $50 range, depending on the size of the chips and how much they detract from the appearance. Difficult to assess damage without a photo. Thanks, Larry

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Red Wing Bakeware

Question:
I have some Red Wing Bakeware which I inherited 40 years ago. I just found out what it is, as only 1 of the pieces is marked. I have donated it to a small local museum for their yard sale on Saturday. Having identified it, I am now concerned that 1) it go to someone who will appreciate it and 2) we get a fair price for the museum. Approximately what price would be appropriate for the yard sale, or, if there is a collector’s market for the Bakeware, would it be better to withdraw it from the sale and pursue that, with proceeds to the museum? I have 4 large plates, 2 small plates, 1 medium size oval casserole with lid, 4 small oval casseroles with 3 lids, 4 cups and saucers, and a teapot. One of the small casseroles has a chip, and another piece has a crack. Otherwise, they are in beautiful condition. There are 4 other pieces which are probably another pattern. Thanks, Sharon

Answer:
Sharon, There are certainly collectors of Bakeware but the values for this pattern aren’t particularly high. Most of the pieces you’ve mentioned are quite common and supply is greater than demand. Collector values for the plates are $5 to $15, cups & saucers $10 to $15 per set, the medium casserole $20 to $25, the small casseroles $10 to $15 apiece (less if missing lid, chipped or cracked). The teapot is the most valuable piece. In excellent condition it would be worth $30 to $50, depending on glaze flaws. Glaze skips and breaks are common with this pattern; a teapot with a smooth clean glaze could fetch the upper end of the price range. Thanks, Larry

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Chuck Wagon and Round Up Dish

Question:
Hi, I have a piece that says Red Wind USA on the back. I don’t know any thing about glaze but I think from what I could find on my own, that I have a Relish dish in the Chuck Wagon or Round Up pattern. It is divided into 3 sections and has a handle. It has a tiny chip on the back of the handle. I was wondering if it still had any value and if so, how much? There is no chuck wagon on it, only 2 cowboys. Thank you, Janis

Answer:
Tough to assess damage without a photo, but your relish dish still has value. To my knowledge there is no difference in the cowboy artwork for a Chuck Wagon and a Round Up relish dish. The plates had different designs but that was about the only difference in the patterns. Assuming the chip is very small and on the backside of the piece as you describe, the value of your relish would be in the $30 to $50 range. Thanks for writing, Larry

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Bob White Pattern

Question:
I have a dinnerware set of Red Wing Bob White pattern & the majority of the pieces has a yellowness on the pottery, mainly being on the outside edging or outer parts such as the cups. I have tried oops (b/ c I thought it was nicotene..cig smoke) but that didn’t remove it & usually Oops cleaner does. I soaked pieces in Oxyclean for over 6 hours & never phased the yellow. My question is: is this yellowness suppose to be there? If not, what can I use to get rid of it? Enclosed is a picture of a plate. Again, the yellowness is mainly around the outside edging…none in center of pieces at all. Thanks, Patty

Answer: {mosimage}
I don’t see any abnormal discoloring on the plate in the attached photo. The color may be a bit darker towards edges but it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary. Perhaps the glaze is built up a bit thicker in these areas than on the flat portions of the plate, giving the edges a yellower appearance. You might gently try a little mild abrasive cleaner such as Soft Scrub on a small area to see if it has any effect. But my guess is this is a natural aspect of the glazing process. Thanks, Larry

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Boy Statue

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I have a "Red Wing Boy Statue" that may be one of the rare pieces mentioned in the "Red Wing Collectibles" book on pg. 138, or, is this just a common statue created somewhere along the way? Thanks Ted

Answer:
Ted, the statue of the boy holding the crock you have is not Red Wing. I have seen a number of these Red Wing statues and all are very similar to those you mentioned in the Red Wing collectibles book. I know that these statues have been reproduced in the past and I am quite sure yours in a reproduction also. Sorry, wish I had better news for you. Al Kohlman

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Leaf Design on Dish

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I purchased a box of misc. items at an auction last month. In the box was a large golden yellow oval-shaped dish with a leaf design. The edges of the dish sort of spill over with the leaf design. It is shallow and has RED WING USA 526 on the bottom. There is also some sort of mark in the middle, but it is not clear enough for me to see. It has a stained area in the middle and does have a crack. I believe this is a genuine Red Wing item just based on the other items this elderly lady had in her home – lots of vintage items. Any information will be much appreciated. Thanks Elisa

Answer:
Hi Elisa, You have a console bowl that is part of a set–there is a frog in the shape of a deer#531, that goes with it. It was produced for many years, I would guess yours is from the late thirties. with damage and missing the frog, it may bring about 20.00 or so. thanks, steve n rose

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Lead Based Paint?

Question:
I was wondering if the paint used on the lotus pattern collection is lead based? Beautiful to admire, but safe to use? Thanks Kristy

Answer:
Lead-based glazes were commonly used in the pottery industry, and it’s my understanding Red Wing used them. The lead is in the shiny glaze that coats the plate, not in the colors used to decorate the plate. I do not know if lead-based glaze was used to produce Lotus dinnerware but most likely it was. Personally, I would consider a piece of Lotus with intact glaze to be safe to use. I would be more concerned about chipped or cracked pieces, or pieces with crazing in the glaze. (Crazing refers to fine cracks in the glaze that sometimes appear as the piece ages.) Thanks Larry

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Midnight Rose

Question:
We recently went through boxes packed when my in-laws were alive. We discovered pieces of black and white dishes with Red Wing and what appears to be a red wing painted on the bottom of the pieces. The dishes are white with black roses (I think its roses). Is this actually Red Wing dinnerware/pottery? Thanks Linda

Answer:
Midnight Rose is the name of your dinnerware pattern. Plates in this pattern featured a rose drawn in black (like a pencil drawing) on a white background. The plates were marked "Red Wing" on the bottom with a pinkish-red ink stamp. Accessory pieces were made in solid black with white interiors, although the set could also be purchased with all-white pieces borrowed from the Tweed Tex pattern. Midnight Rose is one of six patterns made in the Anniversary shape, and it had the shortest lifespan of the six. It was made for only a couple of years in the mid-1950s. Apparantly the black color scheme did not catch on with buyers and the pattern was soon dropped. Thanks Jeff and Sue

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Selling a collection

Question:
My wife was an avid and aggressive collector ( # 799 ) of all things Red Wing. She passed 18 months ago. I am now in the process of inventorying somewhere close to 400 pieces of Red Wing Dinnerware, crocks, jugs, art ware, commemeratives and collectibles. I’m looking for advice about how to approach the sale of a very large collection. According to the "identify & price" books I’ve purchased, I have some very rare and expensive items in this collection. Thanks Ted

Answer:
Ted, I am sorry to hear of your loss. Hopefully I can be of some help. From your email, a collection of almost 400 pieces of Red Wing is quite extensive. In order for you to capture it’s best worth in my opinion would be a large auction scheduled close to the July Red Wing Convention. You may need to schedule this down the road as this year’s July convention is booked. My advise to you would be to contact Houghton’s Auction Service at 1967 Launa Ave. Red Wing, MN 55066 or another reputable Auction Services in the Red Wing area and discuss your best options with them. Book prices are strictly a guide. Some items listed will not bring a books value where other items listed are well below what they may bring. Auctions in Red Wing during the convention period seems to bring out the best in Red Wing values. Good luck. Al Kohlman

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1915 Crock #15

Question: {mosimage}
One of my customers brought the pictured crock in last month, and I just got around to doing some research on it. He claims that it’s been in his family for at least 60 years. His family made pickles in it!

It has a pull-out spout on the bottom, and a cork on the top, to the left of the "front".

Any thoughts or info would be greatly appreciated!

And this crock is for sale, at his request, so if anyone is interested, please feel free to contact me!

Thank you so much! Dan

Answer:
Dan, nice looking crock. This Red Wing crock was manufactured prior to 1915. It was manufactured for dairies and Laboratories. Without the Red Wing oval and the spigot holes, this crock is somewhat unique from the other standard 15 gallon Red Wing Crocks. Hopefully some lucky Red Wing Collector will read this question and shoot you an email. Good luck! Al Kohlman

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