Question:
Hi, I have this 8 gallon crock with the word Special above the number. What is it worth? Gary
Answer:
these “Special” 8 gallon crocks are somewhat hard to find and were produced between 1936 & 1947. I have seen them sell anywhere from $160 to $200. Al Kohlman
Hi, I just picked up a few new pieces and was wondering if you could give me an approximate value of them.
The 5 gallon shoulder jug has a chip on the base and the 5 gallon beehive has a chip on the top, with no other cracks.
The stoneware bottle is 8 1/2’” tall and is unmarked, while the smaller wide mouth jug is 6 1/2” tall
and bottom marked ~ R.W.S.W.
Thanks in advance.
Andy
Answer:
Andy, the 5 gallon shoulder jug with just the number 5 and base chip has a value around $40. Collectors are looking for pieces with either a decoration or advertising. The 5 gallon beehive with 6 inch wing and chip on spout has a value around $250. If it weren’t for that spout chip, the value today would be $350. The stoneware bottle is not Red Wing. An lastly, the small bottom signed tomato jug has a value in the area of $40 to $60. Hope this helps. Al Kohlman
Question:
My younger brother found the crock in the attached picture as he was cleaning out a junk house in Northern Wisconsin . . . luckily, he knew enough to keep it but is now wondering what it’s worth?
There are a couple of cracks as you can see in the picture.
Thanks.
Steph
Answer:
Steph, your Red Wing 5 gallon crock with the hairlines has a value in the range of $30 to $40. Would make a nice planter in someones yard. Hard core collectors are looking for those perfect pieces which of course demand a higher value. Hope this helps. Al Kohlman
Question:
if this is real or a prototype? Did red wing ever make one like this? About what year is it from? What would be value at if real?
Answer:
I don’t recall seeing a black & white Katrina cookie jar, but I have seen the Chef jar in those colors. I would need to inspect the jar before I could say with certainly that this jar is authentic, but from the photos it certainly seems to be a real Red Wing cookie jar. A key point is whether the black color is under the glaze or was added over the glaze.
The Chef, Friar and Katrina cookie jars were introduced in 1941 and continued to be produced into the early 1950s. This jar has only RED WING USA pressed into the clay; jars made in the 1940s were marked with an ink stamp. Thus this jar was probably made in the 1950s. Red Wing tried several new color schemes during this time but most examples are found on the Chef jar, not Katrina. Hard to say if this is a prototype or a limited production item. Prototypes, samples and lunch hour items almost always have unusual markings and this jar does not, so I lean towards limited production.
If this is an authentic cookie jar produced by Red Wing, I’d estimate the value to be $500 to $750 if it was in excellent condition. The photos show damage to one tip of Katrina’s hat and significant staining to the base. Can’t tell if there is additional damage. The visible damage would reduce the value by at least 25% and probably a bit more.
Larry
Question:
I recently acquired a cookie jar that looks similar to a Red Wing pattern, but I’m not sure if it is a Red Wing or not. Its in perfect condition and I also have the lid to it. Any information and value on this piece would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Answer:
The cookie jar was made by Red Wing but isn’t from a dinnerware pattern. In the early 1940s Red Wing introduced a line of cookie jars, munch (squat) jars and salad bowls. Each piece was available in three different shapes, and each shape was available in three colors (white, brown and green). A July 1942 brochure named this line “Hand Painted Pottery” and the three shapes were Incised Peasant, Rose and Fruit. The photo shows an Incised Peasant cookie jar in white. All of these items were hand painted, but the colors were “cold painted” over the glaze rather than fired under the glaze like most Red Wing products. Over time and with repeated cleanings these colors tend to wash off. All of the color is missing on this jar. An Incised Peasant cookie jar complete with cover with most of the paint intact and no chips or cracks is worth $30-40. The missing paint would reduce the value by half or more.
Larry
Hi,
I ran across your website while I was researching a crock I found at a local estate auction. I have attached photos of it. I was wondering if you would be able to give me an idea of what it might be worth? There are no cracks, but as you can see, there are a few stains. I am curious as to if it’s acutally a reproduction because it doesn’t have the traditional “oval stamp” but rather an imprint with the company name. It also is not signed. Thus far I have not run across any others with the same design.
Thank You,
Ann
Answer:
Ann, you hit a home run on this barn burner! You have a very rare Red Wing Stoneware Company 12 gallon double flower that is front stamped. This is a very early Red Wing salt glazed piece most likely produced between 1878 and early 1890’s. If your double flower crock is free of all chips, cracks and hairlines the value is quite high and may even scare you. The only thing going against its value that I see is the economy and the stains (especially on the front of the piece in the middle of the flowers). Now this is my opinion, but I think the value of your absolutely stunning 12 gallon crock is between $18,000 & $20,000 (hopefully someone is around to pick you up off the floor). If you should decide to sell it, your absolute best crack at getting the most for it would be at the July Convention in Red Wing, Minnesota. If you are not a member of the Red Wing Collectors Society and you do wish to sell it, do yourself a huge favor and joint. Your earth shaking salt glazed Red Wing crock should bring quite a bit of excitement to those collectors who read this Ask The Experts question and view your killer piece. Thanks for sharing it. Al Kohlman
Question:
i purchased a 3 gallon elephant ear minnesota stoneware churn at auction, it’s the same as the one in stoneware book,but has black instead of blue. i can’t find anything on this, wonder if you could help.
thanks, tony
Answer:
Tony, it is much more common to find Elephant ear churns and crocks in black ink verse blue. If the churn is in perfect condition, the value is around $500 with an oval and lid. Hope this helps. Al Kohlman
Question:
I just recently acquired (2) interesting pieces that are Red Wing Art Pottery. #844 & #847, as pictured here. I think they are really neat pieces, and found your email on the internet. Wondering if you are able to tell me what each piece is worth, if anything.
Thank you!
Katie
Answer: Hi Katie
these are part of the Belle line, circa 1963, designed by Belle Kogan. I would say around 30.00 for the short one, 50.00 or so for the tall one. thanks, steve n rose
Question:
Hi, we are curious on this piece of Red Wing as we cannot find a comparable. Do you know the age and value? that there is embossed type lettering on the back side of the feet, “RED WING,” on one side and a number on the other side which is hard to read but I think is 914.
Many thanks for your time.
Mark and Leslie
Answer: Hi Mark & Leslie
this is shape # 914, a female centaur, made around 1965, in he bronze line glaze. Pretty rare piece, you don’t see these very often. I would guess around 1000.00 or so for a value, I haven’t seen one sell for quite sometime. thanks, steve n rose
Question:
Hello.
I have a 20 gallon butterfly salt glaze with a back stamp and a 15 gallon birch leaf? salt glaze with back stamp Minnesota stone ware red wing. My husband was an avid collector or Wisconsin pottery not Red Wing even though he bought & sold RW, he recently picked these 2 pieces up.
On 1-6-12 my husband passed away unexpected, I am now trying to find a value. I can supply photos, do not have them photographed at this moment.
Both are super clean with no damage. decoration is bright & big.
I will continue to research.
Thank you,
Debbie
Answer:
Debbie, I am sorry to hear about your lost of your husband. One is never ready for something as tough as this. Like your husband, I also share the stoneware collecting with Wisconsin Stoneware being high on my list of collecting as well as Red Wing. Now your husband has found two nice pieces here. The 20 gallon Red Wing butterfly that is back stamped is a little down on value. In perfect condition the value is between $2000 & $2400. The Minnesota Stoneware double leaf back stamped crock in perfect condition is between $2500 & $2800. Hope this helps. Al Kohlman
