RWCS Website upgrade beginning Oct. 23

Attention! Beginning Monday, October 23, 2006 we will be making upgrades to the RWCS website. The Members only sign up feature will be unavailable. You will still be able to login if you’ve previously signed up online. Also, the Ask the Experts submit question pages will be unavailable, however, the answered questions will stay online.

Our apologies for this inconvenience to our RWCS members and visitors. Those features should be back online later this week.

If you have any questions, please contact the business office at 800-977-7927.

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Bob White Pitcher 14 inch

Question:
I have a 14 inch Bob White pitcher in perfect condition. I was curious about the value and if you know of any specific places that might be interested in purchasing it. Thanks LuAnn P.

Answer:
The 14 inch (or 112 oz) Bob White pitcher seems to vary considerably in value, depending on the knowledge of the buyer and seller. I’ve seen them sell for as little as $25 and as much as $200. I would place the value for such a pitcher in excellent condition to be somewhere in the middle, in the range of $75 to $125. While far less common than the ubiquitous 60 oz pitcher, the 112 oz pitcher certainly isn’t rare and is often seen on eBay.

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20 lb Butter Crock

Question:
I bought a 20# Red Wing butter crock with a large wing at a farm auction. It was not listed on the auction bill, only a sponge ware cookie jar was listed. I bought each piece for 725.00. The butter crock has 2 small rim chips, no other cracks or chips, Its the best one I’ve ever seen and the cookie jar is mint. Did I pay too much? Thanks Gail L.

Answer:
Gail, you must have had a little competition at the auction to get to the $725 price for your 20 lb buttercrock. In mint condition with a 4 " wing, a pretty 20 lb butter crock will fetch $1000. If your rim chips are small and do not detract from it’s beauty I think you did alright. Al Kohlman

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15 Gallon Crock

Question:
I recently submitted a question but have not seen an answer. I have become interested in collecting Red Wing stoneware after seeing it so often on eBay. I was surprised to see a Red wing piece for sale at the recent Adirondacks antique show in Indian Lake, N.Y. I bought it for $180.00 but think I may have gotten off to a bad start as far as collecting Red Wing stoneware. It’s a 15 gallon crock with a blue 15 and a large wing but no oval or bottom marking. It has a spigot on the bottom and a hole near the top on the right side when viewing from the front and is in excellent condition. It also has a cover in great shape that is not marked but has the petals and a bail handle and looks just like one I’ve seen in a Red Wing book. The cover has a more salt glazed look to it than the more white looking crock. Could this have been a water cooler or perhaps just something used to make something like pickles? Did I pay way too much? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Fred C.

Answer:
Fred, it sounds like you made an excellent purchase with your 15 gallon Red Wing crock with lid. The crock alone is valued in the area of $200 to $250 with the large wing and two spigot holes. The spigot if stamped "Central" and in good condition is valued at $50. The lid (being a little salty brings the price down some) is valued between $100 & $150. With all this being said, if your piece is as nice as it sounds, you should have no problems doubling your investment should you decide to sell it. Al Kohlman

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Light Blue Vase #1183

Question:
I have a light blue vase labeled 1183 RED WING U.S.A. It has no chips or cracks, just the normal crackling inside the vase. "Red Wing" is underlined, coming from the "R" and has a little downhill dip at the end of the line, with a tiny dip just below it. Could you tell me more about this piece, how old is it, what other colors was produced in. I’ve seen a tan piece online. Also estimated value, if possible. Thank you so very much for your time. My mother recently passed away and this piece has always been in our home.

Answer:
Kim, Your vase was originally designed in 1943. Glazes for that timeframe would be antique ivory, luster tan, luster blue, and luster rose. I’m not sure how long this particular vase was produced, so it could come in even more glazes. Its value is around $40.00 or so. Thanks, steve n rose

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Garden Line Candy Dish

Question:
I have a piece of pottery that my grandmother gave me. She is now 92 years old and she said she won first prize at an antiques show 20 years ago with this piece. I’m not sure but its black and the bottom is very hard to read but I think it says Red Wing and there is a number M5005 or M-5003. I was wondering what it was and what if anything it was worth. It almost looks like a big candy dish or something. It has a base with a long neck like thing and the bow on top is rectangular. Thanks Susan W.

Answer:
Susan, Your item is from the Garden Line, 1956. All are very simple in design. The value is around $20 or so. Thanks, steve n rose

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Pipe Vase #1503

Question: {mosimage}
Hi. I can’t seem to find out anything about my vase. It is white with a green inside. It has a handle with a swirl on the end on only one side. The bottom is marked Red Wing USA M 1503. Thanks Glenda W.

Answer:
Hi Glenda, Your vase is called the "pipe" vase, designed by Charles Murphy, circa 1957. Its value is around $40-50. thanks, steve n rose

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Ashtray #1542

Question:
Can you identify this ashtray as to style name and approximate
age and value. It is marked RED WING USA 1542 and is speckled mustard yellow
and measures 10"x10". Thank you Mariar G.

Answer:
Mariar, Your ashtray is from the late fifties. The glaze is fleck yellow, and its value is around $20-25. steve n rose

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PROVINCIALWARE 25

Question:
Hello, I recently purchased a red wing piece that I haven’t heard of. Have you ever heard of Red Wing Provincial Ware? It is an impressed stoneware pan – the measurements are: 7 1/4" long base, 9" long mouth, 2 3/8" tall. "REDWING PROVINCIALWARE 25" is impressed clearly on one side. It has a mottled finish with some age checkering. It is in excellent condition. I have looked through all my books, and have not been able to find any information on this piece. I have been collecting red wing for about 4-5 years. Mainly started out with larger size crocks. I have gotten more serious in the pieces I now collect. I also own a 1/2 gallon salt glaze North Star jug, in mint condition. I really appreciate your time in helping me. I printed out a membership application tonight, and will be mailing it in right away. I didn’t know if I needed to be a member before asking any questions on this site. Once again, thank you so much for your
time. Candi L.

Answer:
Candi, Welcome to the RWCS! Always good to hear from our new members. Your Red Wing Provincial Cooking Ware piece dates to the World War II era. Metals were in short supply for consumers during the war years, and Red Wing offered Provincial Cooking Ware to fill the void. The line consists of casseroles in several sizes, bean pots, stock pot, shallow cooking dishes and a frying pan. The exteriors were bisque (unglazed) and tan in color while the interiors and covers had a rust colored glaze. As you noted, the exterior sides of these pieces was stamped "Red Wing Provincial Ware" along with the stock number of the item. I believe you have the frying pan.

This line is not popular with collectors today for a couple of reasons. The bisque clay absorbed grease and soil during use; most pieces found today look dirty and don’t clean up well. Occasionally a vintage unused piece turns up and the colors are quite striking. Such a piece would have more value than the usual dirty-looking pieces. This line included only cooking pieces — no plates, bowls, cups or other serving pieces that collectors prefer.

In the 1960s Red Wing re-introduced this line with several changes from the original 1940s cook ware line. A tan glaze covered the exterior to help keep them clean. The cooking pieces were marked Red Wing USA on the bottom rather than markings on the side. And serving pieces (plates, bowls, cups, sugar & creamer, etc) were available to go with the cook ware. Serving pieces are rust colored and are in the Village Green shape.

Larry

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5 gallon Crock

Question:
I have a stone crock pot approximately 5 gallons pass to me from my Grandmother who was born in the late 1890’s. Description: 5 gallons with the marking of “5" in blue; the 5 is located on one side centered on the outside of the pot. It has handles on both sides. Color; top half brown, bottom half stone color. My mother said it was used to make wine. What is the estimated value of this pot? Thanks, Gerald

Answer:
Gerald, your 5 gallon stoneware crock was not manufactured by the Red Wing Stoneware Company. Red Wing did not produce two tone crocks. My best guess (without seeing a photo of your crock) would be the Western Stoneware Company who manufactured your grandmother’s crock. With no damage, the value on your crock would be in the range of $50 to $75. Al Kohlman

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