Question:
I have a pot with a lid unglazed on the outside but glazed on the inside with the markings on the side of providence 30 & a 30 on the inside of the lid. Can you tell me when it was made & what it is used for? The value? Thanks Tammy

Answer: In the 1940s during the World War II years Red Wing introduced Provincial Cooking Ware. The line included only baking pieces such as casseroles, stock or bean pots, marmites (individual size casserole), and open baking dishes. The exteriors are bisque (unglazed), the interiors and covers have a rust-colored glaze, and the sides are marked "Red Wing Provincial Cooking Ware" along with a stock number. The bisque exteriors were impossible to keep clean, and surviving pieces today usually have a very dirty appearance.

In the early 1960s Red Wing re-introduced this line as Provincial Bakeware. The new line retained the same pieces, shapes and rust-colored interiors and covers as the 1940s line. There are two significant differences between the 1940s and the 1960s pieces. The newer line has a tan glaze on the exteriors, made to resemble the old bisque exteriors but be much easier to keep clean. And the newer pieces are marked "RED WING USA" along with a stock number on the bottom rather than on the side.

Your piece is a stock or bean pot. It was used to cook liquid-based foods such as soups or baked beans. Since is it marked on the side and the exterior is unglazed, it is from the 1940s Provincial Cooking Ware line. The "30" mark indicates the shape number Red Wing assigned to this item.

The values for both the 1940s and 1960s versions are rather low as they include only baking items and thus don’t attract much interest from collectors, who generally prefer full dinnerware sets. Your pot would be worth $10 to $30 if it is free from chips and cracks. The lower end represents the value of a typical stained pot, the upper end the value of a pot in new unstained condition.

Larry