Question:
could you please help me idenify and price a 14 1/4 inch hand painted charger I recently found.It has a african figure playing a drum and marked red wing on the back. see photos

Answer: You have a very interesting and desirable piece of art pottery that was made from a dinnerware platter blank.

In 1941 Red Wing introduced the Provincial line of dinnerware. The line included four patterns (Orleans, Brittany, Ardennes and Normandy) and was Red Wing’s first handpainted dinnerware.

The 14" platter from the Provincial line was borrowed to create a series of decorative hanging plates featuring three different African scenes: a man beating a drum, a woman gathering food and a dancing man. The scenes were painted entirely in black, while the plates were available with either tan or light blue background colors. These African plates were definitely intended to be hung on a wall, not to serve food. Two small holes are found in the foot ring on the back of the plate; a wire or cord could be passed through the holes in order to hang the plate.

These African plates were produced for only a short time around 1941-1942. The line did not sell well and was soon dropped from production. Perhaps the artwork did not attract potential buyers, or maybe onset of America’s involvement in World War II was a factor. In any event these African platters are now quite rare and are sought by both Red Wing and Africana collectors. In excellent condition, the value for one plate is over $1000.