Monthly Archives: February 2018

Tidbit tray with test plates

Question:

Good Morning,

While traveling in Palm Springs earlier this month I came across the following unmarked piece.  Being a collector of Tampico, I noticed that the shape was clearly Futura.  Do you have any information on the history and value of this piece?  Thanks,

Alan

Answer: This two tiered tidbit tray was made from two test or sample plates.  The three handwritten codes on the bottom of the plate confirm this.

The plates are in the Futura shape.  The design resembles Pepe, a pattern from the DuoTone line, but the colors are different.  Perhaps consideration was given to add Pepe to the Futura line, but most likely the glazes were the focus of the test.  After testing was finished and the sample plates were no longer needed, they were drilled and made into a tidbit tray that was probably sold at the Red Wing Pottery Salesroom.  The Salesroom served as a place for Red Wing to sell seconds, overruns and various odds and ends like this tidbit tray.

It’s hard to place a value on a unique piece like this.  Collectors will appreciate a well-known pattern (Pepe) in a different color on plates from the “wrong” dinnerware line.  But the holes that were drilled to convert the plates into a tidbit tray detract from the value considerably.  If the dinner plate was intact I would estimate its value to be in the $400-600 range, maybe even higher to the right collector.  But as a tidbit tray I’d estimate the value to be no more than half as much.

Larry R

Red Wing Lotus Vase, H 510

Question:

My name is Barb. I sent a few pics of this vase. It is roughly 10 and three quarter inches in height at the top lip; roughly 5 and a half inches wide at the belly; there are about 5 chips at the base.
Was wondering what value this item may be worth?
Thank you, will wait for your response.
Barb

Answer: These can be quite valuable in mint condition. Damage in art pottery sends it plummeting. Even with damage, you might get $20 for this. Mint they are currently $150-200 for most shapes.

Bob White Tumblers

Question:

We have searched the archives looking for information on a few pieces of dinnerware but haven’t been able to find what we are looking for.  We are needing info on the Bob White supper sets & 4oz juice tumblers.  Were they actually produced?  We’ve heard of both items but haven’t ever seen them!  Also, we would like to know what patterns the water coolers & stands were available in.  Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge!!  Kim

Answer:

Bob White tumblers were a standard production item for a brief period in the 1960s.  The image below is from a January 1965 brochure.

Bob White supper trays were never put into production.  Such a tray was sold at the Red Wing convention auction a number of years ago, and it’s the only one I’ve seen.  I believe that was a test or sample piece, and the company decided to not add it as a standard production piece.
Water coolers were made for the following patterns:
Village Green, Delta Blue, Bob White, Round Up, Tampico.
A 1952 Village Green brochure lists a Wheat version of the water cooler but I’ve never seen or heard of one.
Larry R

RED WING COLLECTORS TO CONVERGE ON DES MOINES FEB. 23-24

RED WING, MN – Hundreds of stoneware and pottery collectors will make the trek to the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites in Des Moines, Iowa for the Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS) MidWinter GetTogether, Feb. 23-24.

The Red Wing Collectors Society is made up of more than 3,000 members worldwide who collect stoneware crocks, jugs, churns, dinnerware and art pottery manufactured in Red Wing from the 1880s to 1960s. The February event helps tie collectors over until the next RWCS National Convention in Red Wing in July. Both events serve as great opportunities for members to connect over Red Wing and learn about the history of the potteries that once operated in Red Wing, their diverse production lines and the impact they had on the American pottery industry.

 

The event will kick off with a Friday night social for attendees in the hotel ballroom from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 23, but as with any large antique event, the opportunity to buy and sell is top of mind for collectors and dealers. In this case, the RWCS MidWinter GetTogether never disappoints. Many attendees will prop open their doors and sell Red Wing wares from their hotel rooms during the event – some starting as early as the night of Tuesday, Feb. 20. A formal Show & Sale will run from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 followed by an auction at 5 p.m. – both of which are open to the public. Auction proceeds will benefit the Pottery Museum of Red Wing and more information can be found at www.houghtonauctions.com. Whether you’re new to collecting Red Wing or an experienced collector, anyone and everyone is invited to attend this fun event and find a new piece for their collection.

 

Education is also a major focus of the event. Collector Joe Grout will give a keynote presentation on the Red Wing Stoneware Company’s production in Iowa through Ft. Dodge and Plymouth Stoneware. RWCS Hall of Fame members Larry Roschen and Terry Moe will present on less common Gypsy Trail dinnerware. Mark Wiseman will present on potteries in Marion County, Iowa and Jeff Birchman will cover Red Wing beater jars and their use as a merchant premium. Debra & David Giesen will lead a round table discussion on collecting Red Wing and Danae Quirk Dorr will present an in-depth discussion on Red Wing’s North Star Stoneware Co, which only operated from 1892 to 1896.

 

All activities will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at 4800 Merle Hay Rd in Des Moines, Iowa, which is located at the intersection of I-35 and I-80 in Des Moines. Visit www.erwcs.org to register or learn more about the MidWinter GetTogether.

 

The 42nd annual Red Wing Collectors Society Summer Convention is slated for July 12-14 in Red Wing, MN. Annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society costs only $35 and includes five 16-page full-color newsletters mailed to your home throughout the year. The RWCS was founded in 1977 in Red Wing and there are more than 3,000 members worldwide. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 651-388-4004, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.erwcs.org. You can also join the RWCS on Facebook and follow it on Twitter at @RWCollectors

RWCS Release Event App for MidWinter

We are excited to share that you can now download the MidWinter schedule directly to your phone!

The RWCS has been working with RWCS member Craig Orcutt and his company Orcadia Labs to create this handy way for you customize your MidWinter experience with the convenience of your phone. Thank you Craig for donating this wonderful tool for attendees!

You can simply search for “In Any Event” on Google Play for Android or the Apple Store for iPhone. If you prefer, here are the links:

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orcadialabs.inanyevent

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/in-any-event/id1348755354

We hope this app will be an easy and quick way to keep up on everything going on at MidWinter. You might see mention on google or the app store that this application is in development, but that’s only because apple and google have a long process to get final approvals.  The app is finished, but the paperwork takes a few extra days.

Please share any feedback you have on the app with Craig Orcutt at orcadialabs@gmail.com or Mike Stenstrom RWCS vice president and tech committee chair at vicepresident@redwingcollectors.org. Both Craig and Mike will also be attending MidWinter so be sure to visit with them in person too.

See you in a few days in Des Moines, IA! Safe Travels.