Question:
Hi, I found these two pieces and wondered if I could get some more information on them please. The lid for what I am guessing is the sugar bowl is made of metal, and is rather heavy. The little pitcher which I think is a creamer matches the sugar bowl. They are marked Red Wing USA but no number is on either of them. Thank u for any help. Shannon

Answer: You have a Continental Buffet creamer and sugar set. Continental Buffet was introduced in 1956 and was available in matte white or blue colors. The cover of your sugar bowl is nickel-plated, as were the covers and warming stands for other pieces in this pattern. As the name implies Continental Buffet was a buffet service, not a full dinnerware pattern. The following Continental Buffet pieces came with a metal warming stand: Covered platter, covered sauce boat, two sizes of covered casserole, and covered beverage server. Also available were a salad bowl with metal fork & spoon, salt & pepper shakers, and the creamer and sugar bowl. The entire line consisted of nine items.

Continental Buffet was a heavy, high quality set and the nickel-plated metal parts were expensive. The retail price of Continental Buffet was higher then similar buffet services from competitors and the line did not sell well. By 1960 Red Wing dropped Continental Buffet and redesigned the line. Metal parts were replaced with walnut (wood) for the warming stands and covers (pottery covers with wood knobs). This redesigned line was called Buffet Royale.

Continental Buffet items are scarce today, and the blue color is harder to find than white. In excellent condition your creamer is worth $20 to $30 and the covered sugar bowl $25 to $35. A collector specifically looking for these items to fill out their set might be willing to pay a bit more, especially for the blue color.

Larry