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Question:
My husband and I have been living in my family home (built 1939) since my mother died, and my husband died in June after a very short illness. My son and I just found in our basement: 11 small, what appear to be individual casserole/ soup tureens, natural pottery on outside and brown glaze on insides, with lids. They are stamped on the sides: "Red Wing Provincial Ware 22". Can you please help us evaluate these pieces? I do not know how to send you a photo other than by regular mail. Thank you
Answer: Provincial Cooking Ware was made by Red Wing in the early 1940s during the World War II years. This set included only cooking and baking dishes, no tableware. All items had bisque (unglazed) tan exteriors and rust-colored interiors and covers with "RED WING PROVINCIAL WARE" and a stock number stamped into the side. Stock number 22 is for a "Petite Marmite" (individual casserole) and it holds about 16oz. Today an unused Provincial Cooking Ware item will occasionally turn up. These unused pieces are very attractive with their contrasting tan and rust colors. But most surviving pieces were used for their intended purpose, which means grease and food came into contact with the bisque exteriors and caused stains. These stains seeped into the unglazed clay and were impossible to remove, thus most pieces found today are stained to some degree. Collectors generally have little interest in cookware sets and the stained condition of most Provincial Cooking Ware doesn’t help. A petite marmite # 22 in like-new condition might be worth $10-15; the same item that has been used and stained is worth no more than $5
Larry