Question:
I have what I believe is a Red Wing chip and dip set. It is beige with brown flecks. The larger bowl has Red Wing U.S.A. on the bottom. The larger bowl is almost 10" by 9" across. The smaller bowl is 5" in diameter. The bowls are not round but more of an oval shape. It also has what I believe is the original metal piece to hold the smaller bowl. I’m trying to find out when this might have been made and what it might be worth.

Answer: You do indeed have a Red Wing chip and dip set, made in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The metal piece that holds the two bowls together is original. While the bowls are in the popular Casual shape (Bob White, Round Up, etc) this chip and dip set is not a part of any dinnerware pattern. It is among a number of items promoted as "Novelty and Gift" wares. This set would go well with any of the beige fleck dinnerware patterns but was sold as a stand-alone item.

The complete set of two bowls and the metal pieces is not easily found today because one part or another was often lost or broken over the years. But it also doesn’t seem to attract much collector interest, probably because it doesn’t belong to a specific dinnerware pattern. Shops often price the set in the $50-75 range, but I’ve seen them sell for $20-25. I purchased a complete set myself a couple of years ago for under $10.

Larry