Chromoline – hand painted beauties by Red Wing

I did not realize it has been so long since I posted on my blog. Getting ready for the Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS)  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 RWCS  Ask the Experts page.  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 Handpainted 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 Pottery 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 and 503 blue & yellow. Apparently the 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  and requesting a copy of the October 2009 issue.