Question:
Red Wing Pottery Experts, I bought two small Harvest pattern (bread/butter?) plates at an antique store. Neither of the two have any chips or cracks. Both have an even all-over light crazing, but no stains. I know that these are fairly rare. The price guides are a little grey. I paid $10.22 for the pair. What would you estimate their price to be? Thanks, Bret

Answer: Bret, In 1941 Red Wing introduced their first hand painted dinnerware patterns. Four were made in the Provincial shape while Lexington and Harvest were made in the Concord shape. Lexington went on to be produced for many years, but Harvest was dropped rather quickly. I have an undated catalog that includes the Harvest pattern, but the price list that came with the catalog is dated November 1946. It states the Harvest pattern is discontinued and no longer available. I believe the catalog was made in the early 1940s and was distributed over several years along with a current price list. Given the scarcity, the Harvest pattern was most likely discontinued some time earlier than late 1946.

The price guide you mention lumps all the various sized plates together and gives a price range for the group. The upper end of that range would be for a dinner plate. Many collectors seek one dinner plate from each Red Wing pattern; since Harvest dinner plates are very hard to find the value for them is high. Not as many people are looking for the smaller plates so values for them would be on the low end of the range. The smaller plates are 6.5" (bread plate) and 7.5" (salad plate) and in excellent condition they are worth around $30 to $50 each to the right buyer.

Larry