Question:
Hi, I have a set of Red Wing dishes that my grandma collected, as a giveaway, from the local grocery store back in the late ’40s. As far as I can tell, it’s never been used. My uncle says that Grandma just kept the dishes in the cupboard, and that was that. There are 8 dinner plates, saucers, cups, flat plates, and small bowls. There’s an oval serving platter, a dessert bowl, a relish tray, a sugar bowl with lid, a gravy boat, a cream pitcher and salt and pepper shakers. Everything looks perfect, except for a small nick at the tip of the creamer (?) dish spout (see pic). It seems like it’s just a bit of the glaze, not the actual pottery that’s nicked. Anyway, as I’ll never use them either, And my boy is getting near college age, I figured I’d sell the set. Any little bit helps… So I figured I’d ask the experts, and see what this might be worth, And if it should be sold as a set, or by the piece. I appreciate any info you could provide me. Thanks, Wayne VanBrocklin

Answer:
Thank you for the photos and the detailed descriptions — that is a great help! Here are my estimated values for the following Iris pieces, in excellent condition:

Dinner plate: $15-25
Cup & saucer: $10-15
Small plate: $10-15
Small bowl: $10-15
Oval serving platter: $25-35
Nappy (dessert bowl): $15-20
Relish tray: $20-25
Sugar bowl with lid: $15-20
Creamer: $10-15
Gravy boat: $15-20
Salt and pepper shakers: $20-25

As for selling, the best way for you will depend on your particular situation. Selling the whole lot as a single unit is quick but probably won’t maximize your return. Selling piece by piece will likely fetch more per piece but will likely take longer and may leave you with unsold pieces. How much work do you want to put into the sale? Please see the FAQ section for more details on selling Red Wing items.

Larry