Red Wing Pottery Collector | Sharing the history of Red Wing, MN pottery

Other Uses for a Red Wing Crock

Posted on September 7, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

Do you have a crock that you don’t know what to do with? Did you recently inherit one and it needs a home but it might not fit your decor?

1. Trash can – Crocks are great for this job – there is No way it’s going to tip over. Also, just about any plastic bag will fit. Think about it: bathroom, laundry room, outside, garage, kitchen, the places are endless.

2. Dog Food storage – Have a crock 8 gallon or larger? Crocks are a great place to store the food. The crock is cool, dry, and can usually hold those large bags. Need a cover? No worries find a round table top or make one your self. Often times you can even find wooden lids in antique shops or advertised on the RWCS Website. Call the RWCS Office, we have a member that makes them custom.

3. Storage for Well everything -

potatoes and onions need a cool, dry, in the dark place: With just a small round lid a 2-4 gallon crock makes a great place and they can be stacked up.
magazines: have magazines around you don’t want to get rid of, tuck them in a crock
blankets, luggage, winter clothes, etc: Large Red Wing Crocks are great for storing bulky items. I have heard of members using them to hold garden tools too!

4. Furniture – Yes consider a nice piece of wood or marble cut as a top of a crock and they make great end tables. Have a few? consider a shelf. And for the serious collector check out this dinning set!

5. Planter – Crocks make great planters. Make sure you put a plastic liner in and you are good to go. Crock to deep? Put a space filling plastic bucket in the bottom upside down. Then fit your liner piece to the top.

I am sure there are other ways to re-purpose at Red Wing Crock. So before you sell, donate, or give it away consider these other uses. Have an idea to use a crock – post it here.

Posted in Red Wing, Stoneware | Tagged antiques, clubs, collecting, collectors, commemorative, crock table, crocks, decorating, gift ideas, go green, goodhue county, Minnesota, Pottery, recycling, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing stoneware, Republican Eagle, repurpose, Stoneware, storage ideas, using crocks | Leave a comment

Making Kraut in a Red Wing Crock

Posted on September 3, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

It is that time of the year when the RWCS office starts getting calls about using Red Wing crocks to make pickles and sauerkraut. Most of the calls to the office ask about cleaning, repair, weighting down the cabbage, etc. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Cleaning your crock: In most cases last years residue can be removed with dish soap and hot water. For more stubborn lime, calcium, or other deposits, our online expert recommends using Lime removal products in gel form. Apply gel let sit for 24 hours and then rinse. Repeat as necessary and don’t forget to wash with soap after the lime removal product.

2. Don’t have a traditional koverwate: Original Red Wing Koverwates can be expensive – click here to view the RWCS Ask the Expert Answers. Here is a photo of a koverwate:

At the 2010 MidWinter GetTogether, Diane Roupe, author of the Blue Ribbon Cookbook, recommends placing a cheese cloth on the top of your kraut, the a plate that fits as close to the crock sides as possible and weight it down with zip-lock bags of water. She also recommended covering the crock with a towel to keep it free of dust.

3. Damaged: The RWCS office recommends that if you crock is damaged don’t use if for food storage or making pickles in kraut. There are ways to repair your crock using gel super glue but the chemical from the glue would leach into the crock. Check out a future blog posting on “Other uses for Red Wing Crocks.”

So the farmers markets are flooded with great produce and maybe your garden is bursting with pickle making cukes or cabbage heads abundant. Time to get out the crock and set your self up for awesome homemade goodness.

Posted in Red Wing, Stoneware, Uncategorized | Tagged antiques, canning, collecting, collectors, crocks, dinnerware, gift ideas, goodhue county, homemade, Minnesota, pickling, Pottery, preserving, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing mn, Red Wing Pottery, saurkraut | Leave a comment

Every Wanted to Know – What’s my Red Wing Worth?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

The Red Wing Collectors Society(RWCS) website and office has your answer!

The RWCS has a number of ways to find out what your Red Wing: stoneware dinneware or art pottery is worth. Here are the methods.

1. Ask the Experts – The RWCS website www.RedWingCollectors.org has this service and it’s FREE. Search through thousands of previous questions to find your piece or submit your description, ask what you want, and provide what you can. One of our three experts in stoneware, dinnerware or art pottery can assist you. The process takes just a few days. Check back in the area of your question for your answer. Learn more about the Ask The Experts on their page.

2. Email director@redwingcollectors.org – Just like the RWCS website page you can email your questions to the RWCS Business Office and the Executive Director, Stacy Wegner, will be able to assist you. Include as many photos and as much information as you want. She will contact the experts and get back to you.

3. Call 800-977-7927 – Don’t have email not sure about the Internet call the RWCS Business Office Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 5:00pm and the Executive Director, Stacy Wegner, will be able to assist you. Feel free to leave a message, your call will be returned.

4. Mail RWCS, PO BOX 50, Red Wing, MN 55066 – Feel free to mail your information and questions to the Business Office. The office can take the information and find your Red Wing Pottery answers.

The RWCS Business Office is happy to provide answers to everyone’s questions about Red Wing. In order to get your question answered in the most efficient manner make sure you provide the following information:

1. Provide a detailed description of the piece (size, condition, decoration, markings, glaze). If you are asking about dinnerware please include the number of each piece in the place setting.

2. Attach a picture in the space provided if possible. It’s always helps the Expert to have a visual.

3. Your question will be sent to the appropriate Expert.

4. The Expert will provide you with an identification of the piece, the time period it was produced, the rarity/desirability of the item and a range of possible value*.

5. Please be patient as answers to questions make take a few days to post to the website or be responded to via email or phone.

We hope that this information will trigger your interest; maybe you too will be come a collector!

Posted in Collecting Red Wing, Red Wing, Red Wing Dinnerware, Stoneware | Tagged antiques, ask the experts, clubs, collectables, collecting, collectors, dinnerware, experts, gift ideas, membership, Minnesota, Pottery, pottery questions, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, Red Wing Pottery, red wing stoneware, red wing value, Republican Eagle, society, Stoneware | 2 Comments

The 2011 RWCS Commemoratives

Posted on August 22, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

Every year the Red Wing Collectors Society produces a members only commemorative for their Convention. The commemorative is always a secret until it is unveiled at the Convention. Well last month the 2011 Commemorative was released – 4 gallon salt glaze churn. It was a hit.

There was even more excitement this year to see what the variations were. Since Bob Morawski became commemorative manager, there have been three versions of the Commemorative made Version “A” is 90% of the total made, version “B” is 9% and version “C” the number to match the Convention anniversary – this year 35. Each year the version are randomly distributed through both Convention Pick Up and Mailed.

Regular – A, B, and C Versions
Version “A”has a lazy 8 target design, version “B” has a butterfly and version”C” has a bird. The Commemoratives are all stamped just like vintage churns. The stamp can appear on the front, back or either side. The stamp resembles a vintage slit oval stamp and reads “RWCS Convention 2011″. The Commemoratives were produced by Maple City Pottery in Monmouth, Illinois. The churns were hand-turned, hand-decorated and glazed with hand-thrown salt.
The churn lid was pressed in a two-piece mold.

The 2011 Special
Commemorative is a transition butter churn. It is decorated with a hand-drawn cobalt leaf and resembles the zinc glaze appearance that the Red Wing Stoneware and Minnesota Stoneware companies introduced when they moved away from the salt glaze process from 1895 to 1900. The Specials are all stamped on the front. There were 18 Special Commemoratives made. They were given out as awards for displays, prizes and various drawings including a new drawing at the Thursday Night Auction. In addition, one was auctioned in the Commemorative Room.

These beautiful pieces were only available to member before and during the Convention. Every wanted to see the other 34 commemoratives? You can see them on the RWCS Commemorative page.

Did you miss out this year? Join the Society now and get ready for the 2012 Convention, when the Society will officially celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Club. I know I am already excited to see what it will be. The Convention will be July 12-14, 2012, Red Wing, MN!

Posted in Convention | Tagged antiques, churn, clubs, collecting, collectors, commemorative, membership, Minnesota, Pottery, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing mn, Red Wing Pottery, red wing stoneware, Republican Eagle, salt glaze, society, Stoneware | Leave a comment

Summer Flying and Convention is Coming

Posted on June 20, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

It’s hard to believe that that Red Wing Collectors Society Convention is just weeks away. The RWCS office as been so busy getting ready – I forgot I had a blog to keep up.

Lot’s of Fun and Excitement for the Convention this year! As always, everyone is asking what is the commemorative this year? Can I still get one? Can I still get one at the Convention.

The RWCS has made a commemorative each year of the Convention. The first Convention was in 1977; but, the commemorative that year was sold at the 1978 Convention. The rule is that the piece must be a small reproduction of an actual piece of Red Wing Stoneware, Dinnerware, or Art Pottery.

The 2011 Convention will mark the 35th Annual Convention for the club. The rumor on the street is the commemorative is going to be awesome! It will sure beÂ stirringÂ addition to the commemorative collection! RWCS members even got a hint this year in their December 2010 newsletter; so, there has been lots of speculation. The commemorative will be unveil on Thursday, July 7th, 8:00am at Red Wing High School.

With this year the Society will have produced 35 commemoratives for its members. The commemorative is only available for members and they must be pre-ordered or purchased during the Convention. Once the Convention is over – there are no more Commemoratives available. Interested in seeing all of them online – here is a link!

If you are a casual Red Wing colllector, there is still time to register and buy a commemorative or even have it mailed! Don’t miss another one.

Posted in Convention, New Finds, Red Wing | Tagged antiques, clubs, collecting, commemorative, convention, dinnerware, events, gift ideas, goodhue county, membership, Minnesota, Pottery, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing mn, Red Wing Pottery, reproduction, Republican Eagle, society, Stoneware | Leave a comment

100 Mile Garage Sale – Red Wing Hunters Paradise

Posted on May 3, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

The excitement of the 100 Mile Garage Sale weekend is just around the corner. As a mom, I think it’s extra special that it falls on Mother’s Day this year.Â As I start my list of things to look for this weekend – Red Wing Pottery and Stoneware is always at the the top at ever stop.Â It got me thinking about all the great Red Wing Garage Sale finds I have found in the past.

1. Trader Vic Mug - Red Wing Pottery made these really neat mugs for the Trader Vic Restaurants out West. I found my Trader Vic mug in Frontenac, MN. There it sat on the table. My eyes grew wide as I saw this unmarked and plain speckled pieceÂ had no damage and only $1. I quickly pulled out a buck and brought it to the table. I will never forget what the owner said “I’ve always loved that vase.” Hmm maybe I should have told her what it was; but, I said yes it is a neat piece and walked away. To the right, is a photo a Trader Vic mug in color.

2. Red Wing’s Hotel Line- Red Wing made over 100 dinnerware patterns and I am always on the look out for some at Garage Sales. I was at a 100 mile garage sale in Hagar City, WI. In the garage back corner in a box was Red Wing’s Restaurant ware other wise know as Hotel Line. This particular find was the the tan speckle pattern below but it was also made inÂ different trim colors:Â pink for Diamond Jim and blue for The Sweden House. My box treasure was $25 – plates, bowls, cups, saucers, platters, creamers, etc. – just a enough for a full table service. I knew this was a find especially for the RWCS Annual Convention - Kids View Program. I quickly snapped up my find worth more than $25. Photo of plate below.

So as you are out there this weekend consider taking a look at the dinnerware, art pottery and even the crocks you my find – It could be Red Wing. What away to start a collection with a garage sale find! Happy Hunting this weekend – hope to see you out there.

Posted in New Finds, Red Wing, Red Wing Dinnerware | Tagged 100 mile garage sale, antiques, ashtrays, clubs, collectables, collecting, collectors, dinnerware, garage sales, goodhue county, hotel line, kids view, membership, Minnesota, Pottery, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, Red Wing Pottery, red wing stoneware, Republican Eagle, Stoneware, trader vic | Leave a comment

Salt Glaze -Red Wing Potteries beginning

Posted on April 4, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

It has been a busy past few weeks Red Wing Pottery fans! As Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS)Â members know ConventionÂ Registrations are out so forms are flowing into the office for the Annual Members Only commemoratives. That got me thinking about a new blog post – Salt Glaze!

Salt Glaze is the oldest of the Red Wing Stoneware lines. Like the Red Wing Stoneware, it began in 1877 and was produced until 1897. The production line comprised of utilitarian stoneware items such as jars, jugs, churns, water coolers, bowls and such.Â The RWCS Production Line History document defines Salt Glaze asÂ ”a clear, glassy surface is created on the exterior of the ware while it was being fired by throwing common rock salt into the kiln. The heat vaporized the salt and the atmosphere reacted with the clan to form a sodium-silicate glaze on the surface.Â The interiors of the pieces, which wouln’t be exposed to the salt vapors, were sealed with rich brown glaze – called albany slip.”

Â What make salt glaze pieces so desirableÂ Â to collectors you might ask? I think it has alot to to with the hand decorations and that they were hand-turned.

Hand-turning means that the piece was formed by hand on the potters wheel. The craftsman of the potteries placed the clay on a large wheel and formed the crock, jug, churn etc by hand while the wheel was spinning.

TheÂ cobalt blue decorations of the Potteries of Red WingÂ varied from the simple target decoration to the coveted rib cage and butterfly. To learn more about the butterfly click on the photo and it will bring you right to the Red Wing Collectors SocietyÂ Free Ask the Expert page with more info on this piece.

Â Salt Glaze pieces are always a head turner, when collectors see them. It is breath taking to see these examples of American craftsmanship from the crock formation on the wheel to the hand detail of the decorations.

The RWCS newsletters always has a great article about these early beauty’s of Red Wing and many expert questions too. Here are some examples to peak your interest:

Posted in Red Wing, Stoneware | Tagged antiques, butter churn, cobalt blue, collecting, collectors, crocks, hand-turning, jugs, Minnesota, north star, Pottery, primitives, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing mn, Red Wing Pottery, red wing stoneware, Republican Eagle, salt glaze, Stoneware | Leave a comment

Smart Set and Ebb Tide Red Wing Dinnerware Patterns

Posted on February 22, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

This coming weekend I will be hosting a table at the Goodhue County Historical Society Â event Bling and Chocolate.The 5th Annual Bling and Chocolate will be Sunday, February 27, 2011 from 2 to 4 p.m. It’s every girls dream event delicious jewelryÂ and dazzling desserts.Â This is my first year and I can’t wait to see the vintageÂ and new jewelry available for bidding and winningÂ . Looking for more information on the event? Check out the Republican Eagle Community Briefs.

As a hostess, I have to decorate a table for the event; so, what more appropriate dinnerware to use – Red Wing! Keeping in mind their Oscar theme this year, I wanted to show off my favorite lines that would look beautiful andÂ timeless – Smart Set and Ebb Tide.

Smart Set:Â Â It was introduced in 1953 and made until 1957. Smart Set was the first pattern produced in the Casual shape. Later Casual patterns included the very popular Bob White and Round Up patterns. The Smart Set pattern included a full range of table setting and serving pieces. According to the RWCS Ask the Expert, Larry Roschen, “Smart Set sold very well for several years, but the introduction of the extremely popular Bob White pattern (made in the same Casual shape) caused Smart Set to be dropped relatively quickly.”Â

Ebb Tide:Ebb Tide was introduced in mid-1965 and was made for only a couple of years before Red Wing Potteries closed in 1967. According to RWCS Ask the Expert, Larry Roschen, “Ebb Tide is a rather odd pattern because no pitchers, teapot, coffee server or salt & pepper shakers were made. Another oddity is that two styles of coffee cup were available, one with or without a handle.Â Workers apparently found it difficult to be consistent in applying the swirls because the effect can vary greatly piece to piece.”

I can’t wait to see how everything turns out for Bling and Chocolate. Interested in coming to this event? Tickets are just $15 per person call the Goodhue County Historical Society and get your tickets 651-388-6024 – Limited Seating available!

Posted in Red Wing, Red Wing Dinnerware | Tagged 1950s, 1960s, antiques, Bling and chocolate, Casual Line, chocolate, collecting, dinnerware, ebb tide, events, experts, goodhue county, goodhue county historical society, hostess, oscars, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing dinnerware, red wing mn, Red Wing Pottery, Repubican Eagle, Republican Eagle, smart set | 3 Comments

Chromoline – hand painted beauties by Red Wing

Posted on February 3, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

I did not realize it has been so long since I posted on my blog. Getting ready for the Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS) Â MidWinter GetTogether has been fun and exciting. Just one more week before we head to Des Moines, IA – February 11-13, 2011.

This week a beautiful example of Red Wing’s Chromoline was posted on the RWCSÂ Ask the Experts page.Â The question featured the piece to the right. The art pottery experts Rose and Steve Splittgerber had this to say about it:

“this looks to be the M3006 shape, the tall one, 16″. This isn’t a standard glaze, so it is a very special piece.Chromoline collectors would love it…. value, 300+ thanks, steve n rose”

Chromoline HandpaintedÂ was the creation of Red Wing designer Charles Murphy – hence the M before the part number. These beauties first appeared in the Red Wing Art PotteryÂ Catalog in the Fall of 1960. According to Ron Linde’s article in the Red Wing Collectors Society Newsletter October 2009 issue, “Charles Murphy explained that the pieces where spun on a wheel, and as they were spun, the decorator would hold a brush laden with glaze to create a ring on the pieces.” The process was repeated for each individual glaze one strip at a time.

There were 15 shapes available in the line and pieces included: covered candy dishes, vases, compotes, candlesticks, ashtrays, and vases. The Red Wing art pottery catalog listed the pieces available in the following color: 502 rust & green andÂ 503 blue & yellow. Apparently theÂ one above might be a special or experimental piece.

Unfortunately, the time required for production of each piece and the competition from foreign competition contributed to the limited production of Chromoline. After only one year of production, the line disappeared from the Red Wing catalogs, although the shapes were used again.

I wish to thank Ron Linde, RWCS member, for informative article in the RWCS Newsletter and Rick Natynski, RWCS Newsletter editor for the fabulous photo grouping below. To learn more about this beautiful line of Red Wing, MN art pottery considering joining the RWCS Â and requesting a copy of the October 2009 issue.

Posted in Collecting Red Wing, New Finds, Red Wing | Tagged antiques, ashtrays, charles and ray eames, Charles Murphy, chromoline, clubs, collecting, eames ara, handpainted, membership, MidWinter GetTogether, Minnesota, modern design, modernist shapes, Pottery, Red Wing, red wing art pottery, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing collectors society newsletter, red wing mn, Red Wing Pottery, Republican Eagle, Stoneware, vases | Leave a comment

2011 – the 35th Annual Convention

Posted on January 6, 2011 by red wing pottery collector

It’s exciting to think that this year will be the 35th time that Red Wing stoneware, dinnerware, and art pottery collectors will gather in Red Wing, MN. The 35th Annual Red Wing Collectors Society ConventionÂ is in just 27 weeks – July 7-9!

The first Convention was held at the Goodhue County Historical Society grounds and it was only for one day. From the photos taken one can see that participantsÂ brought their pieces to show and tellÂ displaying them on blankets and maybe some tables too. One of the highlights of that first Convention was the book byÂ Lyndon VielÂ ”The Clay Giants.”

The Clay Giants was a hot new book that just came out withÂ lots of great information on the Red Wing Potteries and photos of the production, buildings, and pieces.

This first meeting was the seed that started the Red Wing Collectors Society. All the people who joined at that first Convention,Â are considered Charter Members Today!Â Membership numbers are still issued in chronological order and I am excited to say that we issue already three new membership this year!

Join today and your membership number would be 15960.Â That means that over the past 35 yearsÂ the RWCS has issued that many members numbers. I wonder when and to whom we will issueÂ #16,000.Â

Could it beÂ you? Will it happen at MidWinterÂ in Des Moines, IA – February 11-13?Â Will it happen at a Flea Market, Auction, or Antique Show? Will they come from our Facebook Group, someone following us on Twitter, our eBay listings, or a simple call to the office?

It would be exciting to issue the 16,000 membership number at the 35th Annual Convention, I can’t wait to find out!

Whoever you are and when ever you join, I look forward to welcoming you as a member of Red Wing family!

That’s all for now!

Stacy Wegner
Executive Director, RWCS

Posted in Collecting Red Wing, Red Wing | Tagged antiques, Clay Giants, clubs, collectables, collecting, collectors, communities, conventions, dinnerware, ebay, facebook, goodhue county, groups, history, Houghton's Auction, interests, Lyndon Viel, membership, MidWinter GetTogether, Minnesota, minnesota stoneware, north star stoneware, Pottery, pottery place, Red Wing, Red Wing Collectors Society, red wing mn, Red Wing Pottery, red wing stoneware, Republican Eagle, RWCS, RWCS Newsletter, society, Stoneware, twitter | Leave a comment