The 2011 Commemorative is a salt glazed butter churn. The churns were produced from 1877 through the late 1890s. They varied in size between 2 gallons and 10 gallons and came with many different hand-drawn cobalt decorations, such as ribcages, leaves, drop-8s, butterflies and targets. Although rare, salt glazed churns decorated with a cobalt bird also exist.

In 2011, the Red Wing Collectors Society produced three different versions of its Commemorative. Version "A" is 90% of the total made, version "B" is 9% and version "C" consists of 35 pieces to match the Convention’s 35th anniversary. No one knew which version they were going to receive until they selected a sealed box at the Convention or received their piece in the mail.

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.

It not too late to order your commemorative or come to Convention! Register at Red Wing High School each day of the Convention. Not able to attend call 800-977-7927 and order one to be mailed today.