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Collecting Red Wing Stoneware
by Kathryn Schleich
Red Wing Stoneware began in earnest with pottery manufactured during the period of 1895-1900 as the pottery transitioned from salt glaze to white glaze and the company implemented the modern method of machine-turned pottery and the use of molds versus hand-turned pottery. With one of the most recognizable trademarks – the red wing – the pottery has been referred to as the “Cadillac of Pottery”.
A beautiful example of a Red Wing Ice Water cooler.After the turn of the century the white glazed Red Wing Pottery encompassed hundreds of pieces – crocks, jugs, butter churns, chicken feeders, water coolers - all made for the home and farm. Red Wing manufactured stoneware until 1947, when widespread refrigeration rendered the pottery obsolete.
Specialize. Many collectors begin with the idea of obtaining an example of every piece Red Wing stoneware manufactured. They learn quickly there are vast numbers of Red Wing and collecting on their original scale is most often limited by budget or space. Some ideas to help specialize your collection include collecting a certain design (such as salt glaze with leaves); sets of pottery (for example collecting butter churns in sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 gallons); color; or size.
Educate yourself on Red Wing stoneware. Good books on the subject are “Red Wing Potters and Their Wares” by Gary and Bonnie Tefft; “Red Wing Stoneware” and “Red Wing Collectibles” both by Dan and Gail DePasquale and Larry Peterson.
Familiarize yourself with the markings on Red Wing stoneware, most notably the blue oval and the red wing. In both instances, the larger the oval and the wing, the older the pottery. Ovals were 2 7/8 inches at their largest and the wings were 6 inches. No other stoneware manufacturer decorated their pottery with color beyond blue or black, making Red Wing stoneware very distinctive. Over time as the cost of ink went up, the size of the blue oval and red wing shrunk in size.
Establish a budget. You will discover that collecting Red Wing stoneware can be quite expensive, especially those rare items that are transitional pieces having a combination salt glaze and white glaze markings. An example would be cobalt blue leaves (common to salt glaze) applied by hand on white glaze transitional pottery; or pieces that contain markings that were actually an error such as two ovals on a single crock. Building a specialized Red Wing collection also helps you to keep within your budget.
Monitor the stoneware market and become familiar with current economic conditions and prices. Now is a great time to buy stoneware. Search for Red Wing Stoneware at estate and farm auctions and the Red Wing Pottery auctions that take place during the annual convention in and around Red Wing, MN each July. Participating in auctions on eBay is another avenue.
Generally, Red Wing Pottery spread Westward as the country grew and there are strong Red Wing chapters in Arizona, California, and Washington State, to name a few. Look for Red Wing stoneware from your past. Stoneware is still being discovered in attics, basements, and barns. Enjoy building your Red Wing stoneware collection!
Kathryn Schleich is a writer residing in Minnesota. In 2003 she published her first book, Hollywood and Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers, and Other Images through iUniverse. This article first appeared on the www.ehow.com site. She may be contacted at: kathrynschlei777@yahoo.com.
